The far right has clung to the narrative that anti-migrant protests and mass flag operations are being run by everyday Brits, consisting of ‘concerned parents’ and mild-mannered patriots. Protesters claim they oppose immigration due to the supposed increase in crime which comes from allowing people seeking asylum into the community; they are not racist, they are simply concerned about local people.

However, HOPE not hate can reveal that many of the individuals leading anti-migrant movements possess their own criminal records and are perfectly comfortable with threatening or enacting violence on locals who disagree with their views. Organisers of Operation Raise the Colours have quickly shown their true intentions in a flurry of racist abuse and property damage. Clearly, criminality only worries these ‘local residents’ when the perpetrator is not white.