TAXPAYERS are forking out tens of thousands of pounds to remove Palestinian flags from lampposts, the Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Tower Hamlets in East London has spent around £20,000 to remove 794 flags strung up after Hamas’ attack on Israel October 7, 2023.
And nearby Redbridge has spent £19,500 removing Palestinian banners from structures and posts, according to Freedom of Information requests.
The war in Gaza has prompted guerrilla campaigns to cover some streets with the black, red, green and white flag.
Videos shared on social media show groups of men going out at night to put up the flags. They can be seen climbing ladders and tying the banners to lampposts along high streets.
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There has also been a guerrilla graffiti campaign across east London on shop shutters.
One resident in Tower Hamlets said new flags appear just days after the council has removed them.
And flags on lampposts in Whitechapel this week demanded the International Criminal Court arrest the Prime Minister.
Writing across the emblem said: “ICC: Now arrest Rishi Sunak.”
Tory MP Bob Blackman said: “It’s totally inappropriate, it should not be allowed.
“The people that are doing it should be prosecuted to get us some of the money back that it costs to remove them.”
The cost of policing the huge protests in the capital topped the £32million mark in March.
And three police officers were injured and 40 people arrested during a protest in Westminster on Tuesday night.
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “Following the decision in March to remove the flags, the council has to date removed 794 flags. We always seek to remove the flags as efficiently and safely as possible and ensure best value for taxpayers.”
A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “In accordance with s132 of the Highways Act 1980, Redbridge Council has a policy of removing any and all unauthorised items, including flags, banners, and decorations, from our street furniture, such as lampposts, benches and railings.
“This policy is applied fairly to all items displayed on street furniture in order to keep our streets tidy, prevent the potential concealment of CCTV and traffic signs, and to avoid items falling into the street and causing a hazard. We will continue to follow our policy.”
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