A council of a ‘fiercely patriotic’ city have ripped down a ‘large number’ of England flags after a man was punched to the ground in a ‘racist attack’.
The victim, who was in his 30s, was verbally abused by a gang of ‘white’ men ‘carrying flags’ at a park in Portsmouth before he was battered, police say.
The alleged assault at Canoe Lake, in the well-heeled district of Southsea, sparked an immediate response from Portsmouth City Council, which said it would be ripping down flags in the park.
The move has been criticised, with the city’s Conservative group leader today branding it a ‘heavy-handed’ and ‘insulting… overreaction’.
However, the Liberal Democrat-led council said it cannot ‘ignore any activity that could be deemed to be condoning racist behaviour in our city’.
In a statement, it said: ‘A large number of flags were put up in Canoe Lake park on the same day as a racially aggravated assault, which is being investigated by the police.
‘Police have said the suspects were carrying flags and subsequently, the council has received complaints specifically about the flags in Canoe Lake.
‘We understand and respect the desire of some residents to display national pride or remembrance through flags and, as a council, our buildings that have flagpoles proudly fly the Union flag.
Pictured is a St George’s flag in Canoe Park, Portsmouth, where the alleged racist attack took place earlier this month
In recent weeks a number of protests have taken place in Portsmouth, with St George’s and Union flags raised up across the city (pictured is a rally in Guildhall on August 22)
‘The incident at Canoe Lake is very specific and therefore, we have decided to remove the flags from this location.
‘We can’t ignore any activity that could be deemed to be condoning racist behaviour in our city.’
However, city Tory boss Councillor Simon Bosher lashed out at the move, telling the Daily Mail: ‘The response from the city council is very heavy handed.
‘They previously said they had no intention of [taking down flags]. We have flags throughout the rest of the city in Drayton and Farlington. What are the city council going to do now, spend loads of money taking down all these flags too?
‘This has been a complete overreaction and something I absolutely don’t support. Are they going to take this to the nth degree and stop flying the Union Flag outside the Civic Office? There will be a complete outrage if they do that.
‘Portsmouth has always been a fiercely patriotic city. That’s got a lot to do with the fact we’re home of the Royal Navy. Defence, the Royal Navy and patriotism go hand in hand in Portsmouth. What the city council is doing is pretty insulting.’
The attack in Canoe Lake reportedly took place at 8pm on Sunday, September 21.
In a further response to the incident, the city council said it would be removing ‘unauthorised’ St George’s Cross symbols painted on the city’s historic Guildhall building and on roundabouts as well as flags that ‘pose a hazard’.
Portsmouth has seen a series of anti-immigration protests taking place (pictured are activists in the city centre, draped in the Union and St George’s flags)
It said: ‘We will continue to take a measured approach to flags in other areas.
‘Unauthorised St George’s Cross paintings were painted on Portsmouth Guildhall and this has caused damage to the Grade II listed building.
‘Damage like this is upsetting, unlawful and costly to repair.
‘Additionally, symbols have been painted on roads and roundabouts, which do not comply with national road marking standards which the council has a legal duty to uphold, therefore, any non-standard road markings will be removed to keep road markings compliant.
‘Flags and any other items attached to lamp posts or any other council property will be reviewed in line with our normal processes and removed in due course, unless they pose a hazard, in which case they will be removed as soon as possible.
‘Residents are free to hang flags responsibly on their own property.’
Hampshire police is now appealing for witnesses to the assault to come forward.
‘We received a report that a man in his 30s was approached by a group of five or six men he did not know at Canoe Lake in Southsea,’ the force said in a statement.
‘The men have been described as white and carrying flags.
‘Members of the group verbally racially abused the man before he was punched in the head, knocking him to the ground.
‘The man suffered minor injuries from the assault and was taken to hospital as a precaution.’
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the city following a series of anti-immigration protests in recent weeks.
In June, Portsmouth City Council was accused of trying to cover up an alleged rape by a migrant living at one of the island community’s asylum hotels.
Anti-migrant activists are seen facing off against protests from Stand Up to Racism in Southsea on August 1
The man was charged with rape and voyeurism over the alleged assault outside the council offices on a woman on June 11.
The suspect had reportedly been staying at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, which is a migrant facility housing foreigners.
Portsmouth City Council did not issue at statement at the time but councillors had been briefed about the alleged sex attack.
Local politicians were warned not to speak out about the suspect’s housing, with one council officer raising fears about ‘community tension’ if it was known.
Another senior official privately urged Portsmouth Independents Party former leader Cllr George Madgwick – who now heads up the city’s Reform UK group – not to share ‘privileged confidential information’ after he took to social media to express his frustration.
Following the incident, a series of anti-immigration protests took place in Portsmouth.
Rival protesters clashed last month in Southsea over concerns about a migrant hotel in the city.
A rally organised by ‘Portsmouth Patriots’ saw 150 activists armed with flags and banners – some of which said ‘house Brits not illegals’ march along South Parade.
A counter-protest of about 100 people from Stand Up Racism Portsmouth also gathered opposite the Royal Beach Hotel, where asylum seekers are housed.
