TfL Pledges Consistent Enforcement Against Unauthorised Flags Amid Abuse of Contractors

Transport for London (TfL) has reaffirmed its commitment to removing unauthorised flags and other displays from its infrastructure, despite contractors facing abuse and intimidation while carrying out the work.

The assurance comes in response to a letter from Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly and Merton councillor, who raised concerns about Union Jack flags being placed on TfL-managed roads outside Merton Council’s headquarters.

“Though the union flag is, in many contexts, a proud national symbol of unity, its unlawful placement across our neighbourhoods is part of a growing pattern of activity being used, not to celebrate, but to intimidate,” Bokhari wrote. She highlighted that far-right groups have deliberately misused the flag to spread fear among minority communities.

TfL Commissioner Andy Lord replied that the agency would continue to remove all unauthorised displays, including flags, graffiti, posters, and other materials, applying its policy fairly and consistently.

“We understand the concern these unauthorised displays have caused. London’s streets must be safe and welcoming for everyone, and TfL will not tolerate behaviour that undermines that principle,” Lord said.

Lord also acknowledged the abuse and aggression directed at contractors, saying TfL is working with the Metropolitan Police to establish safe methods for removal and will investigate anyone targeting staff.

According to guidance from the previous Conservative government, flying flags from local authority or highway property without permission is illegal, and TfL meets both definitions. Similar disputes have occurred elsewhere; for example, Tower Hamlets Council removed Palestinian flags after legal threats, citing breaches of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Bokhari has also highlighted the broader context of rising hate crime in London, referencing attacks on her local mosque in the 1970s and 1980s. She noted that far-right extremists are among those responsible for placing flags on lampposts across the country, according to the organisation Hope Not Hate.

“It reminds me of seeing NF [National Front] signs when I was growing up,” she said in a recent True London podcast, reflecting on the continuing impact of intimidation on London’s minority communities.

TfL’s commitment signals a continuation of enforcement, balancing public safety, freedom of expression, and the protection of its contractors from harassment.