Raise the Colours founder charged with 14 offences including assault

| Senior Live News reporter Published September 7, 2026 2:42pm Updated September 7, 2026 2:42pm Ryan Bridge, a founder of Raise the Colours grassroots group, faces 14 charges(Picture: Alamy Live News) A leading figure in the group that put flags on lampposts has been charged with several offences, including racially aggravated harassment. Ryan Bridge, 45, from Blackwell in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, is facing charges linked to 14 alleged offences. Bridge is the founder of Raise the Colours, an activist group that gained attention for hanging flags following anti-immigration protests last year. The alleged incidents happened in Oxfordshire between January 31 and March 31 this year, the police said. Bridge has been charged with the following: Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress Three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence Two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress One count of racially aggravated fear of violence One count of common assault Thames Valley Police said it has been investigating the reports and reviewing evidence, including witness accounts and footage, and it has submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. The 45-year-old is set to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on November 3. Oxfordshire County Council sought to stop flag-raising after they appeared on lampposts and road signs. It won a High Court injunction in July against Bridge, Ben Cullen, Kevin Good, Trudy Wells and anyone else intending to attach flags on highway structures, or harassing council staff removing them. Tim Bearder, the leader of the county council, said the injunction will help protect residents and workers and ‘keep the highway safe.’ He said the behaviour of Raise the Colours has ’caused fear within our communities for almost a year.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Man dresses as clown and uses axe on mum-of-three’s front door Arrow MORE: Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer confirms single juror ‘robbed’ them of a not-guilty verdict Arrow MORE: Judge officially declares mistrial in Lindsay Clancy murder case News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.