Police chief: It's not our job to take sides on flags

FORCE 'ONLY HERE TO KEEP PEACE'

- HARRY LEACH News Reporter

THE West Midlands Police Chief Constable has revealed what it would take for his officers to intervene over the England flag row after tensions boiled over in a Birmingham suburb.

Police were called to Stirchley on Saturday, October 18, to keep apart local people and pro-flag members of the Raise The Colours group after heated arguments broke out.

Some residents claimed they felt 'intimidated' by the group, who have been involved in for hanging cross of St George and Union flags from lampposts around the West Midlands.

Members of Raise The Colours repeatedly returned to the area with cherry pickers to replace flags ripped down by those who claimed the initiative carried racist undertones - an allegation hotly denied by the group.