This summer has seen the annual rash of flags erected on lampposts throughout South Belfast, causing particular concern in well integrated areas like Ormeau, Finaghy and Carryduff. Commenting on the latest incidences of illegal flagging Claire Hanna MLA said “This is a source of major frustration for me, other residents and businesses across South Belfast.
People of all religious backgrounds and none choose to live in South Belfast and long may this continue. I accept that flags are an important part of identity for some people and I respect their right to fly a legal flag outside their home. They have no right, however, to fly flags on public furniture,
especially in harmonious, shared neighbourhoods like this. It is, at best insensitive territory marking and interpreted by many as coat trailing and intimidation and it is unfair that whole neighbourhoods are held to ransom by a few people obsessed with symbols and heightening tension. This summer has seen Nazi, Confederate and various paramilitary flags flying on our streets. As well as the fact that flags are left to dissolve in rags, this makes it clear that this practice is not about showing their respectful British identity, but about making everyone else feel uncomfortable”
“Understandably, residents have been looking to the PSNI to remove the flags, particularly when they appeared to indicate that erecting them would constitute a bread of the police. I feel that this is ultimately a political problem and, as in the cases of bonfires, marching and related disorder, we can’t just police our way out of political failure. We need a consistent and fair approach and application of the law, and ultimately we need political leadership and an updated Flags Protocol from the NI Executive, as well as a coherent strategy on tackling sectarianism. Until we address community relations, our economy and our people aren’t going to thrive and we aren’t going to properly solve the real issues we were elected to address. The Stormont Executive has failed to deliver this or any
meaningful direction on how we are going to share this region, and I will be pushing for long overdue legislation on behalf of the vast majority of us who want to get on with our lives and our neighbours”.