English flags and crosses were reportedly described as posing “narrative challenges” by officials at a secret meeting including police, the Government and an anti-Muslim hatred group. Senior officers, Home Office, Ofcom and other officials met to discuss the Operation Raise the Colours flags campaign on August 27.

The national campaign saw St George’s cross flags and Union Jacks flown from lampposts and houses around the country. But it proved divisive with some hailing the flags as displays of patriotism and others claiming they were racist and raised to intimidate certain communities.

In a leaked email seen by GB News, the group is said to have discussed anti-migrant protests around the country. It notes: “They agreed the tone is less hostile but increasingly febrile with an increase in public flag displays and graffiti”.

The email adds: “There is a general commitment to remove racist graffiti within 48 hours – but flags/crosses present narrative challenges”.

It also notes “concerns” from Scotland Yard over “how different local authorities were responding to the flag issue – whilst some are removing the flags, others aren’t”.

The meeting was undertaken by the National Community Tensions/Hate Crime Gold Group set up by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. It is said to have included discussions around social media misinformation, anti-Muslim hatred, disability hate crime and anti-migrant protests and sentiment.

The National Police Advisor for Hate Crime chaired the meeting. It was attended by representatives from the Met Police, Greater Manchester Police, Police Service for Northern Ireland, Home Office, Welsh Government, Ofcom, and the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime for Policing and Criminal Justice.

Tell Mama, an independent group which monitors “anti-Muslim hatred”, was also reportedly at the meeting. The leaked email says Tell Mama raised concerns that the “level of anti-Muslim hatred reporting has increased” and this was “linked to the high levels of anti-migrant sentiment”.

Reform UK’s Lee Anderson said the leaked memo only reinforced what has been known all along. “This Labour government has little loyalty to our country, is anti-British to its roots, and dismissive of our heritage.”

He added: “The United Kingdom is a nation to be immensely proud of. For centuries, we have been among the most generous, welcoming and innovative in the world. If Government officials see the English flag as an obstacle, perhaps they should consider living in a different country.”

A Home Office source told the broadcaster they had seen more Palestinian flags flying at the Government department than English ones.

They said many of their colleagues were ashamed of the flag raising campaign and viewed English patriotism as “racist and suspect”.

The Home Office source is quoted as saying: “Unfortunately, many Home Office officials are not patriotic, and are in fact ashamed of Britain. They do not believe in borders and find anti-migrant protests disgusting displays of hatred and bigotry.”

A Government spokesman said: “This week, the Prime Minister spoke about the flying of the Union Flag and St George’s Cross as unifying symbols of national identity, heritage and shared values.

“Any other characterisation is entirely unreflective of the Government’s views.”

A Met Spokesperson told us: “The decision on how to respond to the placing of flags in public places is an issue for local authorities. Officers would only respond if criminal offences were committed.

“The comment reflected in the memo is merely a reflection that in a city of 32 boroughs each with its own local authority, differences in approach present challenges for the police in terms of consistent operational planning and briefing.”

Tell MAMA told The Express: “Numerous agencies including other hate crime agencies were at the National Community Tensions/Hate Crime Gold Group meeting. Tell MAMA attended and we made clear that people have the right to celebrate St George’s flag and patriotism should not be seen in a negative light. What we were concerned about is the rise in anti-Muslim hate that has taken place over the last 4-6 weeks as migration and asylum issues have come to the forefront of public debate. We have received more reports than usual over the last 6 weeks of Muslim communities suffering abuse, racism and targeted hate with some reporting that perpetrators have suggested that they should “leave the U.K.” or “go back to their own country”. “

Ofcom and National Police Chiefs’ Council have also been approached for comment.