Portsmouth City Council has described damage to the 19th-century Portsmouth Guildhall as upsetting after vandals painted a St George’s Cross on the building. The Victorian hall, now used as an events venue, is among several structures in the city marked with the red-and-white symbol, the council said.

A council spokesperson said the Guildhall is a civic and cultural landmark of great importance to the city and its residents. Damaging it is upsetting, unlawful and costly to repair. Although the painting has been removed, there is still visible damage. The council added it has a legal duty to remove symbols painted on roads, but no action is planned to remove flags hanging from lamp posts or other public infrastructure unless they pose a hazard.

It also notes a separate incident in Barrow, Cumbria, where police clarified that no flags were harmed during the installation of a CCTV camera at a local church after vandalism reports. A social media post claimed officers were diverted from investigating crime; the force later said the post was misinformation. The wider debate about displaying Union and St George’s Cross flags has seen some authorities remove flags while others say the issue reflects broader social tensions.