Ben Cullen Ben Cullen Semantic Summary Ben Cullen is a leading organiser in Raise the Colours (RTC), the far-right nationalist group that attaches St George's and Union flags to lampposts and public infrastructure without permission across Oxfordshire. Operating from Wallingford with ties to Reform UK, Cullen was one of four RTC figures named in a landmark June 2026 High Court injunction secured by Oxfordshire County Council, alongside co-founder Ryan Bridge and fellow members Trudy Wells and Kevin Good. He attended the June 2026 Britain First Birmingham march and the Henry Nowak murder protest in Southampton alongside representatives from Tommy Robinson's network and Patriotic Alternative. In 2019, he pepper-sprayed a man in a pub garden. On 30 June 2026, he was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children (Categories A, B, and C), with trial at Reading Crown Court — a revelation that prompted RTC co-founder Ryan Bridge to attempt to distance the group from Cullen despite extensive photographic evidence of their collaboration. Cullen represents the criminal-legal jeopardy increasingly afflicting RTC's inner circle, alongside murder-charged Billy Allison, and illustrates how flag-nationalist street activism serves as a vehicle for figures with histories of violence and sexual offending. Platform: Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) Category: Far-right, Protest coverage Status: Active (legal pending) Real Name: Ben Cullen Age: Unknown Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire Monikers: Flagshagger (derogatory, by opponents) Overview Ben Cullen is a leading figure in the Oxfordshire branch of Raise the Colours (RTC) , the far-right nationalist group whose members attach St George's and Union flags to lampposts and public infrastructure without permission. Operating primarily in Wallingford and Oxford, Cullen has been a key organiser of the group's flag-raising campaign across Oxfordshire since summer 2025. Cullen has close ties to Reform UK and has been observed attending multiple far-right events alongside other RTC figures — including the June 2026 Britain First Birmingham march, the Henry Nowak murder protest in Southampton, and organising flag placements in Oxfordshire that prompted a landmark High Court injunction. He has a criminal history: in 2019 he pepper-sprayed a man in a pub garden. As of 30 June 2026 , he has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children (Categories A, B and C), with a trial due at Reading Crown Court on 1 July 2026. Background Cullen is from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and has been involved in far-right street-level activism since at least 2019. In 2019, he pepper-sprayed a man in a pub garden — the incident was motivated by his belief he had been wrongly accused of stealing, demonstrating a pattern of reactive aggression that would later characterise his activism. By late 2025, Cullen had become a principal organiser of the Raise the Colours campaign in Oxfordshire, personally putting up flags on lamp-posts and roundabouts in Wallingford, Oxford, and surrounding areas. Local residents reported feeling intimidated, with non-white residents saying they were scared to leave their homes. Raise the Colours Activity Cullen is described as a "principal player" in Raise the Colours Oxfordshire by local media, and as an RTC member by HOPE not Hate. He has operated alongside Ryan Bridge (RTC co-founder, now increasingly isolated) and other RTC figures including Trudy Wells, Kevin Good, and Jordan Wheatley. Key events: Dec 2025 — Flags began appearing in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. The parish council noted the campaign was "led by Ben Cullen, with close ties to Reform UK". Feb 2026 — Oxford Mail reported Wallingford was divided over Cullen's flag campaign, with some residents supportive and others feeling intimidated. Mar 2026 — Labour MP Anneliese Dodds issued a statement concerning reports of intimidation of residents linked to Cullen's activities. May 2026 — HOPE not Hate published a profile of Raise the Colours naming Cullen as a member, noting he "pepper-sprayed a man in a pub garden in 2019 because he felt he had been wrongly accused of stealing". Jun 2026 (Southampton) — Cullen attended the far-right convergence in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak, alongside representatives from Britain First, Tommy Robinson's network, and Patriotic Alternative. Reported by Byline Times. Jun 2026 (Birmingham) — Cullen was spotted at the Britain First Birmingham march alongside other RTC members. Jun 2026 (High Court injunction) — On 23 June, Oxfordshire County Council secured a High Court injunction against Cullen, Ryan Bridge, and Trudy Wells. They agreed not to raise flags from public infrastructure or impede council staff removing them. The Guardian reported that contractors removing flags had faced "hostility and obstruction", including being followed to their yard and vehicles used to prevent them from operating work platforms. Cullen and the others also told the court they would not encourage others to raise flags. Indecent Child Images Charges On 30 June 2026 , the Oxford Mail reported that Cullen had been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children : Category A (most severe — involving penetrative sexual activity) Category B (non-penetrative sexual activity) Category C (indecent images not involving sexual activity) He is due to appear before a jury at Reading Crown Court on 1 July 2026 . The story broke hours before his court appearance. The charges sparked significant reaction on social media, with opponents of Raise the Colours noting the irony of a group that campaigns on "protecting children" and against immigration having a leading member accused of child image offences. RTC co-founder Ryan Bridge was reported to have distanced himself from Cullen, claiming Cullen "was not affiliated with Raise the Colours" — despite numerous photographs and videos showing him operating alongside the group. Related Figures Ryan Bridge — RTC co-founder, arrested multiple times (racially aggravated harassment, common assault, wounding suspicion) Billy Allison — RTC member, charged with murder (June 2026). Pictured alongside Cullen in HOPE not Hate profile photo Trudy Wells — RTC member, co-defendant in the High Court injunction Kevin Good — RTC member, also named in the High Court injunction Jordan Wheatley — RTC member from Stafford Mark Keating — RTC's "head of security" Legal / Platform Issues 2019 — Pepper-sprayed a man in a pub garden Jun 2026 — High Court injunction (agreed to stop flag-raising on public infrastructure) Jun 2026 — Charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. Due at Reading Crown Court 1 July 2026 Sources HOPE not Hate: "Raise the Colours: Who are the playground bullies plaguing British streets?" (25 May 2026) https://hopenothate.org.uk/2026/05/25/raise-the-colours-who-are-the-playground-bullies-plaguing-british-streets/ Byline Times: "The Neo-Nazi and Far-Right Coalition that Converged on Southampton" (3 Jun 2026) https://bylinetimes.com/2026/06/03/the-neo-nazi-and-far-right-coalition-that-converged-on-southampton-over-henry-nowaks-murder/ The Guardian: "Nationalist group leaders agree to stop hoisting St George's flags" (23 Jun 2026) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/23/nationalist-group-stop-hoisting-st-george-flags-oxfordshire-court-injunction The Guardian: "'Not a culture war': the council that won its case over England flags on lampposts" (27 Jun 2026) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/27/oxfordshire-council-high-court-injunction-raise-the-colours-nationalist-flags Oxford Mail: "Raise the Colours figure accused of making indecent child images" (30 Jun 2026) https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/26240871.raise-colours-figure-accused-making-indecent-child-images/ Oxford Mail: "Wallingford divided over flying of England and Union flags" (15 Feb 2026) https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25838217.wallingford-divided-flying-england-union-flags/ Oxfordshire County Council: "Unauthorised flags - High Court injunction" (23 Jun 2026) https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/about-your-council/unauthorised-flags-injunction Wikipedia: "Raise the Colours (organisation)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raise_the_Colours_(organisation) Facebook / Anneliese Dodds MP (27 Mar 2026): Statement on intimidation of residents https://www.facebook.com/AnnelieseDodds/posts/icymi-my-statement-following-concerning-reports-of-intimidation-of-local-residen/1346887800580847/ Oxford Clarion / Facebook: Four RTC organisers gave undertaking to High Court (23 Jun 2026) https://www.facebook.com/oxfordclarion/posts/four-organisers-of-raise-the-colours-have-given-an-undertaking-to-the-high-court/122128905273215961/ Notes The child image charges broke on 30 June 2026, the day before his scheduled 1 July court appearance — this is an active legal case Ryan Bridge attempted to distance RTC from Cullen after the charges emerged, claiming Cullen "was not affiliated with Raise the Colours", contradicting extensive photographic and video evidence Cullen has been inactive on social media since the charges were announced His connection to Reform UK (noted by Eynsham Parish Council in Dec 2025) has not been formally acknowledged by the party