In the letter to police, Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), said: “Our attention has been drawn to serious concerns on the part of Jewish residents of Tower Hamlets regarding the proliferation of large Palestine flags on lamp-posts in public streets as well as posters and stickers with inflammatory content. These displays intimidate Jewish people and may encourage violence against them.”
In his letter, Mr Turner pointed out that under section 224(4)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act, the owner or occupier of the land on which the flags, posters and stickers are displayed is liable for the criminal offences once it knows of their display – unless it takes all reasonable steps to secure their removal.
“We believe that many of the flags, posters and stickers are displayed on land owned or occupied by Tower Hamlets council,” Mr Turner wrote in his letter.
He went on: “The council has not taken all reasonable steps to secure the removal of flags, posters and stickers on its land and therefore has committed and is committing criminal offences.”
Mr Turner’s letter also suggested that under the terms of the Act, that where an offence is committed by a corporate body, the council officer in charge could also be guilty of an offence.
The letter stated: “It appears that the mayor of Tower Hamlets has neglected to ensure the removal of the flags, posters and stickers. Accordingly, both the mayor of Tower Hamlets and the council appear to be guilty of multiple criminal offences in this matter.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/07/tower-hamlets-palestinian-flags-criminal-offence-jews-mayor/
