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EU flags confiscated from concert-goers at Last Night of the Proms

Confusion over Royal Albert Hall’s banned items policy frustrates prommers as security appears inconsistent

Concert-goers had EU flags confiscated at the Last Night of the Proms.
Last month, the Royal Albert Hall released guidance banning flags “including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, hatred” from the patriotic Proms finale.
The venue has previously stated that their policy on banned items has not changed, and that new wording has simply been introduced to make its rules clear.
But this stance does not appear consistent as there appeared to be little agreement among security staff, on the ground on Saturday, as to how the rules should be enforced, and some had flags removed from them by door staff.
Some ticket-holders had their EU flags confiscated, while others entered the auditorium carrying the yellow-starred blue flags without any difficulty.
The policy even caused concern among patriotic Union flag waving concert-goers, who feared being stripped of their flags by security staff.
The last night has previously seen anti-Brexit campaigners waving EU flags, as part of a campaign by a pro-Europe group.
It is tradition to wave a flags on the final evening, which always features a rendition of the national anthem.
Craig Amey, 35, a council worker from Leicester, arrived at the Proms wearing a full Union flag suit complete with bucket hat.
“Kick me out if you want to but you are not going to take my suit off,” he told The Telegraph, adding that, “The music should take priority”
Guidance released last month stated: “Flags are permitted at the Proms and are traditionally part of the Last Night celebrations provided they do not interfere with the smooth running of the concert.
It adds that “some flags will not be allowed in the auditorium, including those from proscribed groups, flags related to protest, hatred”.  It also sets out size limits for the size of flags.
An additional PDF document has been provided online clearly setting out “restricted items”.
This states that “flags related to protest may be confiscated”.
At the venue last night, staff had been given guidance specifying that “all national flags” would be allowed inside.
Initially a member of the security staff advised this newspaper that EU flags would be permitted in the auditorium.
But this was later contradicted by a second member of staff, who stated that neither EU nor Palestinian flags would be permitted.
This second security guard was then witnessed telling a concert goer that his modestly-sized EU flag was “not allowed” inside the auditorium.
The attendee was however permitted to keep the flag and wait in the cafe instead.
During the patriotic Last Night, which includes renditions of Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia and Jerusalem, the auditorium is typically filled with audience members carrying the Union Jack.
But the venue’s clear statement that certain flags are unacceptable came after public concern over the increasing number of audience members waving the EU flag instead of the Union Jack at the Last Night.
Yesterday campaigners from the pro-EU group Thank EU for the Music campaign group were distributing EU flags outside the venue.
The group is motivated by concern that the event would be “hijacked and used as a jingoistic celebration of Brexit”.
Charlie Rome, 40, from south London, helped organise Thank EU for the Music’s demonstration at this year’s Proms.
Mr Rome, who is a part time tenor that has sung at the BBC Proms this year, said: “We are Proms lovers, we don’t want to spoil it.”
“We are not trying to make a mess of things. I sing here, I don’t want to get banned. But you have to make as loud a noise as you can.”
It is understood that the Royal Albert Hall’s official position is that only flags larger than 1m x 0.5m would be confiscated. The only exception to this would be if someone attempted to bring in a large box of flags to distribute inside the Hall – and in this scenario they would also have their flags removed.
But on Saturday it was not clear that this policy was being adhered to.
At one point two security guards were seen confiscating EU flags from  multiple ticket-holders as they passed through the back check area. A clear plastic box containing confiscated EU flags could be seen at the side of their table.
Staff suggested these flags were being taken from people carrying “two or more” EU flags – they did not appear to be only removing flags from those attempting to bring in boxes of them.
Steve Bray, 55, an anti-Brexit activist from Port Talbot told The Telegraph: “Music should not be brought into politics. I know that sounds rich coming from me.”
Sam Hollings, 36-year-old amateur dancer, said: “We need to make Europe less of a dirty word.”

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