Council worker checking on camera pulled from ladder by man thinking he was removing Union Jack

An engineer checking on council camera equipment was pulled from his ladder by a man who mistakenly thought he was ripping down a Union Jack flag.

The engineer manages to cling on to the telegraph pole after the ladder is ripped out from under him by a man shouting ‘get down’.

He slides down the pole and confronts the attacker who angrily points up at the flag still drooping above their heads.

Salford City Council told Metro that a council sub-contractor who was working on camera equipment was subject to ‘violent behaviour’ and ‘verbal abuse’ in the town of Walkden last Friday (September 19).

Citisense, his employer, also condemned the attack and said it was working with Greater Manchester Police after one its engineers was hauled to the ground.

Speculation abounded on sites such as X where suggestions were made that the man was removing the Union Jack as part of council policy and those who objected were ‘patriots’.

A council spokesperson clarified that this was not the case, saying: ‘We have previously stated we are not removing flags and absolutely do not condone any violent behaviour or verbal abuse.

‘Threatening or intimidating behaviour towards residents and workers in Salford is unacceptable and we appeal to people in Salford to treat each other with respect.’

Transport consultancy Citisense, contracted by the council, said that the attack occurred when one of its engineers was performing routine work to install temporary data collection equipment.

Citisense installs and removes tech including temporary cameras used for highway and transport projects.

It also clarified that it was not tasked with removing the flag.

In a statement posted to social media, the company said: ‘We have no involvement in, nor have we ever been instructed by any authority, to remove flags of any kind.

‘The health, safety, and wellbeing of our colleagues is of the utmost importance.

‘We are fully cooperating with the police regarding this incident and providing our full support to our colleague and friend.’

When approached for comment, Greater Manchester Police did not confirm whether a man had been arrested in connection with the attack.

It came after Durham county council took down Union Flags which had been hung from lampposts and across a busy road in New Brancepeth due to fears it could cause an accident.

The latest influx of England flags appears to have started on the streets of Weoley Castle, a short drive outside of Birmingham.

This was the work of a group called the Weoley Warriors, who describe themselves as ‘proud English men’ on a fundraising page which has so far collected more than £20,000 for ‘flags, poles and cable ties’.

More broadly, the England flag is associated by some with anti-immigration sentiment, and it has featured heavily in the recent protests at asylum hotels.

At such a febrile moment for the UK, it’s perhaps unsurprising the flag campaign has been embraced by far-right nationalists.

Advocacy group Hope Not Hate has also identified supporters of far-right agitator Tommy Robinson who are behind another campaign named Operation Raise the Colours.

Salford City Council has urged anyone with information to come forward and contact Greater Manchester Police on 101.

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