THE FORMER leader of Harlow Council has questioned Essex Police regarding an incident outside a school involving masked men.

The questions came as part of a question and answer session at a Harlow Council Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday night.

In the twenty minute section (you can see below), Bush Fair councillor Kay Morrison began by asking about the 500 plus flags that have been fixed on lamp posts in Harlow.

Cllr Morrison hails from Northern Ireland where, she said: “They put flags up but they also take them down again.”

Supt. Tony Atkins told the councillors that this was not a criminal offence (if no damage was done).

(The law in fact states: Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it a criminal offence to paint, inscribe, or affix any unauthorized sign, picture, or mark onto the surface of a highway, or onto trees, structures, or apparatus (like lampposts) on a highway).

Cllr Morrison was followed by councillor Mark Ingall, who made reference to an incident on Wednesday February 25th (7pm) outside Passmores Academy where staff called 999 after an altercation with masked men outside the Tracyes Road school.

Councillor Ingall had been informed that despite ringing 999, Essex Police did not turn up.

He then referred to an incident the following morning, where it was alleged that one of the men returned and was filming outside the school.

Chief Inspector Mirrington-French said she would look into it.

The five Conservative councillors took no part in this section of the debate in fact a number looked quite frustrated.

Old Harlow councillor, Mike Garnett made one interjection asking: “We have had more than 45 minutes on this……”

Cllr Garnett is also an Essex County Councillor. He sits on the Essex Crime Panel and the Essex Highways Panel.

Essex County Council is the authority that has power to physically remove the flags.