10 February 2026
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA has said a change in approach by the PSNI on flags and emblems is welcome, but must now be backed up with decisive action by all relevant authorities.
The PSNI has confirmed that a new service instruction has been issued to officers.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said:
“The failure to deal with offensive flags, emblems and paramilitary displays has been a source of frustration for many years. While responsibility does not lie solely with the PSNI, it is genuinely offensive to many people that shared spaces such as lampposts, walls and housing areas are routinely used to display material glorifying paramilitaries, with little or no consequence.
“The PSNI’s shift in approach is welcome, but it must be matched by a clear commitment from the Department for Infrastructure and other statutory bodies. Doing nothing is no longer acceptable. Those responsible for erecting these displays must understand that there will finally be consequences for their actions.”
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte, who sat on the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition, said:
“Any commitment from the PSNI to take a more proactive approach to illegal flags is welcome, but it is action on the ground that will determine whether this marks a real change. The public will judge progress by whether the widespread presence of illegal flags across Northern Ireland is finally addressed.
“The new service instruction provides important clarity that, in many cases, responsibility for removal lies with public authorities, including the Department for Infrastructure and the Housing Executive. Both have consistently failed to tackle illegal flags and paramilitary displays. With the PSNI now signalling greater urgency, these bodies no longer have any excuse for inaction.”