Read the email from the group which cut down Bridlington's rainbow flag


Calling themselves 'Men Of Bridlington', they have emailed the Bridlington Free Press stating the reasons the vandalised the LGBT flag.

Why was the rainbow flag raised in Bridlington?Writing on behalf of the group, John Ball says members took offence at the appearance of the rainbow flag, which was on display at a number of police stations in the Humberside Police force area to show support for the LGBT+ community around the time of the Hull Pride event.

The email, which has also been sent to Bridlington's MP Sir Greg Knight, East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader Cllr Stephen Parnaby OBE, the town council, some other media outlets and leading figures at Humberside Police, vows that 'if such a flag is ever flown from a public building in Bridlington again, it WILL be removed.'

The actions have been widely criticised on social media.

The group's email reads:

"Dear Sirs,

"Recently a large rainbow LGBT flag has been flying at Bridlington Police Station. We cannot imagine why this decision was taken, but it is very wrong.

"The police should not be involving themselves in politics and should not be appearing to show bias towards fringe groups in society. That point in itself should be enough to condemn the police, but we especially object to the endorsement of the LGBT movement.”

The letter added more detail of the group’s objections, before adding:

"The police, of all bodies, should not be endorsing this, and it is completely unacceptable that they would. To any normal person, that flag could not be more offensive.

"We vandalised the flag the other evening, and we note that as a result of our actions, it has had to be taken down. To be clear, we did not remove the flag, as we respect other people’s property and do not wish to be accused of theft.

"Instead, we vandalised it by cutting the rope above the cleat and releasing the halyard – the damage is easily remediable. However, should you re-fly the flag or anything similar, we WILL remove it and we will also take whatever other action we consider appropriate and proportionate. We trust that further action will not necessary.

"Through your newspaper, we should also like to put a question to the police and crime rommissioner, Mr Hunter, the chief constable, Mr Freeman, the local MP, The Right Honourable Sir Greg Knight, and PC Danny Fleming, the so-called ‘Community and Cohesion Officer’, whom we believe is personally responsible for this:

"If you were walking past a Humberside police station with a young child, how would you explain that flag?

"The people of Bridlington may also wish to consider that question. We know what the answer from the LGBT community will be. They will say that children should be taught to be tolerant, to which our answer would be a further question: Tolerant of what?

"We do NOT support the LGBT community. More pertinently, it is not for public bodies to endorse the LGBT movement. If such a flag is ever flown from a public building in Bridlington again, it WILL be removed.

"Sincerely yours,

"John Ball

"Men of Bridlington."