Northumbria Police have come under intense scrutiny after footage emerged showing a police liaison officer forcibly taking a Union Flag from a 16-year-old girl during a rally in Newcastle on Saturday, 27 September.
The incident, which has sparked widespread debate about policing, free expression, and patriotism, is now the subject of a formal complaint lodged by the Great British PAC.
Their letter, signed by CEO Claire Bullivant and circulated to police oversight bodies, has been viewed more than 1.2 million times on X (formerly Twitter) and prompted offers of legal assistance from members of the public, lawyers, and even former police officers.
The Incident
Video clips widely shared on social media show the teenager standing on a picnic table waving the national flag. A female officer appears to instruct her to step down, which she immediately does. Moments later, a male officer wearing a blue “police liaison” tabard, identified in the complaint as Officer 2662, forcibly seizes the flag from her hands and walks away with it, crushing it into a ball.
According to reports, Northumbria Police later confirmed the flag was returned, but the optics of the incident have fuelled outrage.
Complaint and Public Reaction
In its complaint, the Great British PAC accused Officer 2662 of bias and unequal treatment, pointing out that no other flags, including Palestinian flags visible in the same protest, appear to have been seized.
“No citizen in this country should ever have their Union Flag ripped from their hands by the police,” the group wrote, demanding the officer’s identity, a full explanation of his actions, and a formal investigation.
Nick Tenconi, UKIP leader and Turning Point UK’s chief operations officer, who led the rally, condemned what he described as “two-tier policing aimed at demonising patriots.”
The case has also drawn commentary from across the political spectrum. Ian Acheson, a former Home Office director of community safety, said the officer’s actions were “more likely to inflame the protest than reduce tension.”
Wider Context
This was not the only flag-related incident in Newcastle that day. A second video shows a man carrying an England flag being confronted by police liaison officers, who told him he could only fly it in “designated areas” under protest conditions. Bystanders expressed shock that Palestinian flags were being displayed freely by counter-protesters.
Northumbria Police defended their actions, stating they acted to “de-escalate tensions and help ensure the safety of all present.” However, the force acknowledged the controversy, promising to “review what happened to identify any potential learning.”
A Larger Debate
The controversy has reignited discussions about policing and national identity in Britain. Writing in The Telegraph, journalist David Shipley warned that treating the Union and England flags as “provocations” risked portraying the police as “an occupying force rather than the guardians of a democracy.”
The timing has also fuelled political debate. On the same day as the Newcastle rally, the Prime Minister described Reform as “an enemy” to the country, raising questions about whether political rhetoric is influencing policing culture.
Meanwhile, images of the 14-metre Brownhills Miner statue in Walsall draped in a Union Flag have gone viral, celebrated by supporters as a striking symbol of pride in national identity.
What Happens Next
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is expected to assess whether to open an investigation into the complaint. If misconduct is found, Officer 2662 could face disciplinary proceedings.
For now, the incident has become a flashpoint in a broader cultural and political struggle. To many critics, the sight of a child’s Union Flag being torn away by a police officer has crystallised concerns about impartiality, free expression, and the future direction of policing in Britain.
This is a disgrace snatching a flag from a 16yr old 😡
Disgusting the liaison representative is acting like a spoilt anti Union flag brat.
Makes the situation so much bias as the PLO flag was over represented on close by, the individual must be sacked .
he took the flag and walked it over to the opposing rally. There he received an accolade of cheering.
His politics got in the way of his policing