The University was in touch with the authority yesterday (Thursday), both before and after the additional flags appeared and again today.
It is entirely lawful to display the Union Flag and St George’s Flag – indeed, we fly these flags ourselves periodically. The use of our national flags can be an expression of pride and their routine use is not racist and wholly legitimate. The concern about these specific flags is that they have emerged after the weekend’s Unite the Kingdom march, and it is possible that their motive and scale of deployment are not to express pride in our country, but to express a view of who is welcome in our country.
Without the consent of the highway authority, it is an offence to hang anything from a lighting column or any highway infrastructure. The Local Authority have explained to us the grounds on which they are currently removing any flags. These appear rather narrow and relate to obscuring road signs and road safety. The University has reported some for this reason.
There are a number of reasons why the University cannot simply remove them – these include but are not limited to the following: we do not currently have the right equipment or insurance for colleagues to do so safely, and even if we were to rectify that, we have no standing to do so as it is not our property.
We know some colleagues and students will have been affected by these events and support remains available as detailed below. Additionally, line managers should use their discretion to check in on colleagues potentially affected.
If you experience or witness anything of concern, including any kind of discrimination, please contact our Security team by calling 01509 222141 or emailing security@lboro.ac.uk (contact details can also be found on the back of your staff ID card), or you can report the incident via the Online Reporting Portal. In an emergency, please always call 999.
Support for staff
Colleagues can access emotional support through our Employee Assistance Programme. Please note this service is also available for your immediate family members (eg spouses/partners, and children aged 16-24 in full-time education, living in the same household).
The University Chaplaincy (Email: chaplaincy@lboro.ac.uk, Tel: 01509 223741) offers a space for quiet reflection. University Chaplains are here to listen, to care and to help all staff and students. No appointment is necessary.
Should you need some time away, we would like to draw attention to our compassionate leave arrangements, including our specific policy related to race-based stress.
Support for students
Student Services (Email: studentwellbeing@lboro.ac.uk, Tel: 01509 222765) offers a range of support, including mental health and wellbeing, and advice specifically for international students. One-to-one support with an advisor is also available. If you would like to access this support, please complete the online referral form.
The University Chaplaincy (Email: chaplaincy@lboro.ac.uk, Tel: 01509 223741) offers a space for quiet reflection. University Chaplains are here to listen, to care and to help all staff and students. No appointment is necessary.
If you feel your studies are being affected, you can contact your Academic School and/or Personal Tutors so that we can provide the right support to you. If you wish, you can also submit an individual Mitigating Circumstances claim to explain how you have been impacted by recent events. More information on this can be found in the Student Handbook.
Support from external partners
Colleagues and students can also seek support from our external partners The Race Equality Centre and Equality Action.