Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge faces 14 criminal charges in Oxfordshire as a separate High Court dispute over unauthorised flag displays in Birmingham approaches another hearing. The two proceedings are distinct, and neither should be confused with the continuing questions surrounding a May hit-and-run in Stirchley.
The Birmingham civil injunction application is due to resume on Monday 2 November 2026, while Bridge, 45, is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Oxfordshire on Tuesday 3 November.
What are the 14 criminal charges?
In a statement on 6 September, Thames Valley Police said Bridge, of Blackwell, Bromsgrove, had been charged following an investigation into reported incidents in Oxfordshire between 31 January and 31 March 2026.
- Seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
- Three counts of threatening, abusive or insulting 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.
Police said investigators reviewed witness accounts and available footage before submitting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. Bridge is due at Oxfordshire Magistrates’ Court on 3 November.
These are charges, not convictions. Bridge is presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.
Why is Birmingham City Council seeking an injunction?
Birmingham City Council has applied for an injunction relating to the attachment of flags to highway structures without permission. Bridge is among the named defendants. The application is a civil case, separate from the Oxfordshire criminal prosecution.
Bridge’s barrister, Dr Liam Wells, appeared at a hearing on 30 September. According to a case account published by Fraser Chambers, the council argued that court intervention was necessary, while Bridge’s legal team challenged the evidence and the breadth of the proposed restrictions, relying on rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
The hearing was adjourned before a decision on the application. Fraser Chambers said no injunction was then in place in the Birmingham proceedings, which are listed to resume on 2 November.
In its published position on unauthorised attachments, Birmingham City Council said it recognises the importance of national flags but objects to items being fixed to lampposts, railings and other street furniture without permission, citing safety and community concerns.
The council says it is prepared to consider authorised flag displays. Bridge disputes the necessity and proportionality of the injunction sought.
What happened in the Stirchley hit-and-run?
On 14 May, a man in his 30s was struck by a van on Mayfield Road, Stirchley, after confrontations involving people installing and removing flags nearby. Reporting at the time established that the injured man suffered a broken leg.
On 16 May, West Midlands Police announced that a 44-year-old man had been arrested in London on suspicion of wounding. A second man, aged 52, was arrested in Birmingham later that day. Police said the van had failed to stop and was subsequently recovered on Prince Road.
Bridge later publicly acknowledged being arrested in connection with the incident and denied wrongdoing, according to BBC reporting. Both men were subsequently reported to have been released on bail while enquiries continued.
There is no verified basis for saying Bridge was driving the van, ordered the collision or knowingly lied about what happened. His arrest was not proof of involvement, and the 14 Oxfordshire charges relate to different alleged incidents.
What remains unknown?
The outcome of the Stirchley investigation, including whether it has resulted in charges, has not been independently established for this report. Social media claims alleging a deliberate attack or cover-up should not be treated as proven facts.
The High Court has also yet to decide Birmingham City Council’s outstanding injunction application, and the Oxfordshire criminal charges must be determined through the court process.
Fish 4 News has separately examined Bridge’s claim concerning a £48,000 legal bill arising from an Oxfordshire flag case. That civil costs issue is distinct from the present proceedings.
Sources
- Thames Valley Police: 14 charges, 6 September 2026
- Fraser Chambers: Birmingham injunction hearing and 2 November listing
- Birmingham City Council: position on unauthorised flags
- West Midlands Police: first Stirchley arrest
- West Midlands Police: second Stirchley arrest
- The Guardian: eyewitness accounts and context, 15 May 2026
