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Cop shop flies Union Jack upside down
20/1/12 Upside down Union flag on Hemel Hempstead Police Station.
RED-FACED police chiefs have issued an apology after it emerged a town centre station was flying the Union Jack flag upside down.
Retired policeman Paul Walker spotted the blunder outside the cop shop in Combe Street while in Hemel Hempstead on Friday.
The Union Jack had been erected for one day only to mark the 44th birthday of Sophie, the Countess of Wessex - which is in line with government guidelines on acknowledging royal birthdays.
Mr Walker, of Great Road, Hemel Hempstead, said: “They should know better - certainly in the year of the Olympics - it is quite insulting.”
The 55 year old, who now works as a health and safety training consultant, added: “In any other country if you flew their flag upside down there would be chaos.”
Under flag flying rules, when erecting a Union Jack flag the broader (wider) diagonal white stripe should be at the top on the side of the flag nearest the flagpole.
Herts Constabulary spokesman Sarah Spence said: “Flags fly at a number of police stations across the county and there are a number of people who are trained to ensure the flags are flying according to protocol.
“Unfortunately on this occasion a mistake was made and we would apologise for any offence that was caused.”
The station is now flying its usual Herts Constabulary force flag, but the Union Jack will take pride of place once more on Prince Andrew’s birthday - February 19.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
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PMS2011
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 01:53 AMWhat does one reasonably expect from our local police? A bunch of jokers flying the Union Joke upside down seems about right to me....
newsreader77
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 05:45 PMIt's often displayed upside down, all over the place! In fact when it is the right way up, it's probably just chance rather than an actual knowledge of how to tell.
Yellow Rose
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:59 AMPerhaps they were in distress and needed help!
marc
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:44 AMmate, if you really find an upside down Union Flag insulting then I suggest you get out more. next time you're looking at the Police Station flagpole, turn around 180 degrees if you want to see a real insult on our country - tracksuit clad chavs wandering in to the job centre clutching cans of stella whilst claiming their benefits.
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