Key facts
- Ryan Bridge, 45, co-founder of Raise the Colours, faces 14 charges.
- Charges include racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, and assault.
- The incidents occurred over a two-month period in Oxfordshire.
- Oxfordshire county council and Birmingham city council have sought injunctions against Bridge.
- Bridge attended the Reform UK conference and received praise from Nigel Farage.
Ryan Bridge, the 45-year-old co-founder of the group Raise the Colours, has been charged with 14 offences, including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, and assault. The group is known for erecting union jack and St George’s flags on public property across England.
Thames Valley police stated that the charges relate to incidents occurring in Oxfordshire between January 31 and March 31, 2026. Bridge is scheduled to appear at Oxford magistrates court on November 3. The offences encompass seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour, three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, one count of racially aggravated fear of violence, and one count of common assault.
Following a review of evidence, including witness accounts and footage, a file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. Both Oxfordshire county council and Birmingham city council have taken legal action, with the former securing an injunction to prevent flag-raising on public property due to safety concerns, trespass, and obstruction. Birmingham city council is pursuing a similar injunction, which will be heard in the high court.
Bridge recently attended the Reform UK conference, stating he received an invitation from the party. At the conference, Nigel Farage praised Bridge and his group's campaign, suggesting it had "woken up vast parts of this country." Bridge was on bail at the time of his arrest earlier this year on suspicion of racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, and has previously denied any wrongdoing.