Thames Valley Police charged 45-year-old Ryan Bridge on 6 September 2026 with 14 offences, including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, and common assault.
The alleged offences occurred in Oxfordshire between 31 January 2026 and 31 March 2026, leading to a hearing date at Oxford Magistrates' Court on 3 November 2026.
Bridge led Raise the Colours to erect Union Jack and St George's Cross flags on lampposts across England, receiving public backing from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Oxfordshire County Council secured a High Court injunction against highway flags in July 2026, while Birmingham City Council scheduled an injunction hearing for 8 September 2026.
Oxford
Oxford, Bromsgrove, Birmingham · United Kingdom
How it came to this
6 SeptThames Valley Police charges Bridge with 14 offences
8 SeptHigh Court hearing on Birmingham City Council injunction application
3 NovBridge scheduled to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court
Police investigation and formal charges
Thames Valley Police formally charged 45-year-old activist Ryan Bridge with fourteen criminal offences on 6 September 2026 following an investigation into multiple public incidents. Bridge, who resides in the village of Blackwell in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, is accused of committing the offences over a two-month period between 31 January 2026 and 31 March 2026. The police investigation focused on reported incidents that took place across Oxfordshire during that winter and spring window. The resulting charges encompass a series of allegations including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, and common assault. Following the charging process, court officials confirmed that Bridge is due to appear before Oxford Magistrates' Court on 3 November 2026 to answer all fourteen counts.
Breakdown of 14 charges against Ryan Bridgecounts
Threatening words or behaviour7
Intent to provoke or cause fear of violence3
Racially aggravated harassment2
Racially aggravated fear of violence1
Common assault1
Threatening words or behaviour
7 counts
Intent to provoke or cause fear of violence
3 counts
Racially aggravated harassment
2 counts
Racially aggravated fear of violence
1 counts
Common assault
1 counts
Data from the article text
Breakdown of the fourteen counts
The fourteen charges filed by Thames Valley Police cover public order violations, racial hostility, and physical aggression recorded across Oxfordshire. Seven of the counts relate to using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. Prosecutors also charged Bridge with three counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence, or to provoke unlawful violence. Furthermore, the charges include two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm, or distress. The remaining charges consist of one count of racially aggravated fear of violence and one count of common assault.
Flag campaign and political backing
Bridge is the founder and leader of Raise the Colours, an activist organisation established to place national banners in public spaces across England. Beginning in the summer of 2025, Bridge and the group erected hundreds of Union Jack and St George's Cross flags on lampposts and roadside structures throughout the Midlands and the south of England. Bridge attended the annual conference of Reform UK in September 2026, where his actions received recognition from the political party's leadership. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage paid tribute to Bridge and the flag-raising campaign from the stage inside the conference hall, offering assistance with upcoming legal matters.
Beyond organising the flag installations across English towns, Bridge has also travelled to Northern France to film small boats in an apparent attempt to stop them from crossing the English Channel to the United Kingdom.
Council injunctions and highway actions
The criminal charges follow civil court action by local authorities seeking to stop the unauthorised placement of flags on public transport routes. In July 2026, Oxfordshire County Council obtained an injunction from the High Court to prevent individuals from erecting flags near public highways. The local authority pursued the injunction due to safety concerns regarding roadside visibility, physical obstruction, and trespass on highway infrastructure. Birmingham City Council has also applied for a similar High Court injunction to restrict unauthorised flag installations on lampposts and roads in its area. The High Court is scheduled to hear Birmingham's injunction application on 8 September 2026, two months before Bridge attends his scheduled hearing at Oxford Magistrates' Court.
Raise the Colours founder Ryan Bridge charged with 14 offences in Oxfordshire
Thames Valley Police charged 45-year-old Ryan Bridge with racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour, and assault following incidents in early 2026, with a court appearance set for November.
AI text based on reports by The Independent and BBC. Published .