St George's flag banned but ISIS flag is fine, say cops

POLICE have been accused of double standards for not arresting a man draped in an Isis flag.

STORM: The Isis flag is draped around a man outside the Houses of Parliament and Hezbollah flag on a car [NC]

The decision has sparked outrage among patriotic Brits who say they have been unfairly penalised for displaying the St George’s Cross.

An image posted on social media showed a man with a young girl on his shoulders strolling past the Houses of Parliament carrying the terror group’s black banner.

But police decided he was not breaking the law and let him walk free.

“How often do we hear stories of council officials demanding union flags be removed because they are offensive? It is getting beyond belief”

Online forums were deluged with anger and the Met was blasted for not taking action.

Connor Blade, wrote: “No arrests made? Double standards. That is what makes me sick.”

Another joked: “Man draped in ISIS flag walks past Houses of Parliament.

“Good job it wasn’t the St George flag because that is apparently racist and offensive.”

And another said: “How often do we hear stories of council officials demanding union flags be removed because they are offensive? It is getting beyond belief.”

Hundreds accused the police of hypocrisy and cited numerous examples of when people were forced to remove the iconic red and white flag.

Two years ago Denise Said, who had three English flags stuck on her taxi, was told by Teignbridge Council in Devon to take them off because they breached equality laws.

Taxi drivers in Southampton were asked to remove St George flags from their cars showing they could speak English.

ANGRY: Steven Rolfe and Denise Said told to remove flags [SWNS & CAVENDISH PRESS]

And labourer Ben Smith also got in hot water with police when he claimed they told him to remove the flag on his parcel shelf because it was offensive to immigrants.

Ben, from Melksham, Wilts, said he was threatened with a £30 fine if he refused to remove it from view.

Father-of-one Steven Rolfe was also ordered to paint over the St George’s Cross on his front door because it could be “offensive”.

The decorator, from Preston, Lancs, said: “I’ve had this flag on my door for 10 years. I am really angry.

“I am not in any sort of racist group. I’m just proud of England. I don’t see how anyone can be offended.”

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A car was also spotted outside an Asda store in Wembley Park, north London, bearing the flag of terrorist organisation Hezbollah.

But police again said it was “within the law”.

Scotland Yard said: “While support of and membership of Isis is unlawful it is not a criminal offence to advocate the creation of an independent state.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We cannot comment on individual cases.”

The Isis flag should not be banned because Britain is a 'free country', says Boris Johnson