Fury, threats and a film crew: How a row over flags reached boiling point

Just over a week ago, angry confrontations over the flying of flags from lamp posts reached boiling point, with a man suffering a broken leg when he was hit by a van as the driver left the scene in Birmingham.

Hours later, as the injured man underwent an operation in hospital, police arrested two people over the incident in Stirchley.

One was held in London ahead of the Unite the Kingdom march, with mobile phone footage showing police removing a man from the crowd of flag-waving activists Raise the Colours.

But the arrest was also captured by a French documentary team which has been following the activities of the Birmingham-based anti-migrant group.

The BBC has learned filmmakers were also present the previous day in Stirchley, having been invited by Raise the Colours to watch them erecting St George's flags with the help of their cherry picker.

A previous visit to the suburb, once crowned best place to live in the Midlands by the Sunday Times, ended with verbal clashes between group members and local residents who insisted their actions were divisive rather than patriotic.

Members of community group Brummies United Against Racism said they had also been invited to Stirchley to take part in the documentary, which is exploring the rise of right-wing politics in England.

They believe the tight-knit area had been picked on purpose because it had "a proud history of standing against racism and fascism".

"Raise the Colours anticipated opposition, sought confrontation, and that confrontation then became part of the production," the group added.

Raise the Colours, which describes itself as a grassroots movement and has the slogan "stopping the boats", has been approached for comment.

It is understood the documentary team witnessed confrontations earlier in the day but were not present when the situation escalated in the evening, which unfolded when residents began removing newly-erected flags.

The activities of Raise the Colours drew attention in France after members travelled to the coast to try to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

The French interior ministry said "far-right activists" from the group had been banned from France after engaging in actions to stop migrants. This included searching for and destroying small boats along the country's northern coast as well as being involved in "propaganda activity".

As a result, 10 British nationals are now banned from entering and residing in France.

Brummies United Against Racism says it no longer wishes to take part in the 70-minute French film, which will examine the rise of right-wing politics in the UK.

Members had hoped filming could show "the reality of Birmingham - communities standing together and peacefully refusing to be divided by hate".

But the group concluded "what may produce dramatic television can have serious consequences for communities already living under pressure and intimidation".

Ryan Bridge, from Raise the Colours, confirmed on his social media accounts he had been arrested in connection with the Stirchley incident. He has denied any wrongdoing.

A member of the residents group Stirchley is for Everyone, who witnessed the disorder, said the situation was "deeply troubling".

He and Brummies United Against Racism said they felt authorities had left residents to navigate the ongoing confrontations over flags alone.

"We envisaged this coming and perpetually warned local government officials, our local MP, local councillors - we've been in meetings for months - but it's been allowed to happen, like a slow motion car crash," the residents group member, who did not want to be named, said.

"We knew it was going to escalate to this point."

Those taking down the flags did so with long poles covered in barbed wire, which has led to accusations they were armed.

"We were doing everything possible to avoid coming into any kind of contact with [those putting flags up]," he said.

"We have footage where you will see us walking away from them. The poles with barbed wire are clearly put away in a car out of the way."

The latest police investigation in the West Midlands is not the only action members of Raise the Colours have faced in recent days.

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed it has sent legal letters to request no more unauthorised flags are flown in the county or a High Court injunction would be sought.

This follows more than 200 complaints over the group's activities in the county, with more confrontations filmed on phones and Thames Valley Police investigating.

"As the highway authority, the council has a legal duty to keep roads and public infrastructure safe," it said in a statement.

"The council has also seen instances of unacceptable behaviour towards employees and contractors carrying out their work, and has a responsibility to protect its workforce and the wider public.

"The letters request that this activity stops and seeks assurances that it will not continue. If these are not provided, the council will consider further legal steps, including seeking an injunction from the High Court."

Birmingham City Council said it would continue to remove flags erected without permission and condemned "abuse and intimidation" towards people who "object to flags being placed in their neighbourhoods".

"Where appropriate, we will take enforcement action against perpetrators in line with our legal powers, such as where attachments cause obstruction, present a safety hazard or are repeatedly placed in the same locations," a statement said.

"We are aware that recent flag-related activity has contributed to increased tensions in some areas, and we encourage all residents to act responsibly and respectfully to help maintain calm, reduce the risk of intimidation and support community cohesion during this period."

The authority is exploring locations for an authorised flag display and said it would consult with communities.

This follows Walsall Council, which announced a permanent display to replace the mass-flagging of its giant mining statue in Brownhills.

West Midlands Police said officers would investigate every crime reported about flag-raising.

They recovered a van that was abandoned after the man in his 30s was hit in Stirchley and are reviewing CCTV, mobile phone and doorbell footage.

The two men arrested on suspicion of wounding, aged 44 and 52, have been released under investigation under strict bail conditions.

For months, Raise the Colours have been successfully fundraising from supporters to buy flags to erect on lampposts in towns and cities across the UK.

That fundraising has now turned into a plea to help pay the group's legal fees, as threats of enforcement action mount up.

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