united-kingdom protest
UK: is it legal to display a flag in front of a store?
<p>Country: United Kingdom</p>
<p>Is it legal to:</p>
<ol>
<li>leave a free standing flag of a country (Russia) close to an entrance of a store?</li>
<li>leave free standing flags:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>of a country (Russia)</li>
<li>with logo/name of a store</li>
</ul>
<p>close to an entrance of the said store?</p>
<ol start="3">
<li>leave free standing flags:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>of a country (Russia)</li>
<li>with logo/name of a store</li>
<li>of a president of a foreign country (Vladimir Putin)</li>
</ul>
<p>close to an entrance of the said store?</p>
<p>Note that this is someone else's store. One of many belonging to an international company. This is meant as a protest.</p>

<p><strong>Is it illegal to display a flag in front of a store?</strong></p>
<p><em>Maybe</em> - not because it's a flag but because it <em>could be</em> an unlawful obstruction of the highway (which includes the pavement) contrary to <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/137?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 137(1)</a> of the Highways Act 1980:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. (<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/122?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">i.e. £1,000</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Many shops fall foul of this if they don't have a licence, especially with 'A' boards and goods displayed for sale.</p>
