Photographs and video have been passed to PSNI after “masked individuals” reportedly erected flags to “mark territory” in the Drumnagoon area of Craigavon.
Commenting on the incident – which occurred on Tuesday evening – Cllr Catherine Nelson said “in the dark of night” those responsible had installed the flags outside the close-knit community to “mark territory and intimidate people”.
The Cllr said photos and video supplied by concerned residents have been supplied to the PSNI who she engaged with on Wednesday.
“The views of local residents must be central to any response,” said Cllr Nelson. “If there is community support for the removal of these flags, that should be facilitated and respected.
“Drumnagoon belongs to the people who live there, and no outside group has the right to impose its will on this community.”
It is understood, as of Thursday morning, the flags have been removed.
Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson also commented on the incident saying he too had received “significant” correspondence from the local community after flags were erected for the “first time in a least a decade”.
Police confirmed they received reports of a number of flags erected in the Drumnagoon area of Craigavon on Wednesday June 17.
A spokesperson explained that as per the PSNI’s Service Instruction, every incident is looked at on a case-by-case basis. The primary responsibility for removing material remains with the material’s owner, or the owner of the street furniture or property where it’s displayed.
However, if it is suspected that an offence has been committed, the circumstances will be investigated within statutory functions, and in accordance with law and Human Rights obligations.
Local policing Inspector Campbell said: “Officers continue their work to engage with communities and partner agencies in relation to any complaints about flags.
“Our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been speaking with community representatives throughout Wednesday in order to find solutions to the issues surrounding the flying of flags in the area, and residents will see an increased visible police presence in Drumnagoon this evening.
“We would ask that anyone who witnesses behaviour which causes them to feel intimidated or scared reports to police immediately on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
“Reporting incidents as they happen allows us to take contemporaneous proactive action.”
