Police probe after St George's Cross painted on giant Goose mascot at Nottingham's Goose Fair

Nottinghamshire Police said they have launched an investigation after a St George's Cross was painted on Goosey the Goose, the two-metre-tall fiberglass-and-timber mascot that forms the centerpiece of Nottingham's Goose Fair, around 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.

Goosey stands on the Mansfield Road roundabout, the city not far from the historic tram line, and weighs about a quarter of a tonne. Police have trawled through CCTV footage and conducted other inquiries in a bid to identify the person or people responsible for the vandalism, which drew swift condemnation from city officials and residents alike. Detectives are appealing for help from the public, including dashcam footage and any witnesses who may have seen something suspicious in the area at that time. "Goosey is an iconic mascot for the fair and we want to find whoever is responsible for vandalising the statue," said Detective Constable Lindsey Webster of Nottinghamshire Police. "We believe a number of vehicles will have passed the area around this time and so would urge anyone with a dashcam to review their footage for anything which could assist. Likewise, anyone who witnessed anything suspicious should get in touch. We know a number of buses travelled past the roundabout as well so if you were a passenger and spotted anything please contact officers."

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council underscored Goosey’s importance to the city’s annual calendar, while making clear that vandalism is unacceptable. "Goosey has been an iconic figure in the city for many years, a staple of the annual calendar in Nottingham. Police have launched a probe after a St George's Cross was painted on a giant goose mascot." The council added that while Nottingham flies the St George's flag with pride on national celebration days, it cannot condone its misuse or vandalism, and flags are removed when they obstruct or create safety concerns or if offensive language is used.

The incident comes as the broader campaign known as Operation Raise the Colours continues to unfold across the country. The movement has seen St George's Crosses and Union Flags appear in towns and cities, sometimes draped over road signs, roundabouts and other public infrastructure. One high-profile alteration occurred at the historic Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, where two lengths of red fabric were pinned to the hillside carving. English Heritage, which owns the site, said it would remove the ribbon as soon as possible, while Wiltshire Police said they were not investigating the incident. English Heritage noted that the flags were a political display rather than a preservation issue.

Operation Raise the Colours has generated a split in opinion: some view it as a display of national pride, while others see it as being tainted by more extremist elements. Critics argue the campaign has been exploited by far-right factions, even as supporters point to the banners as expressions of unity and patriotism. The campaign has attracted high-profile figures and comments from across the political spectrum. Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the Prime Minister "absolutely" supports those hanging up English flags and emphasized a message of patriotism, while the PM himself has said he is "proud" of flags hung at home. A spokesperson noted that the Prime Minister has always talked about pride in being British and that patriotism will always be important, not least in relation to the Lionesses’ Euros victory. In contrast, Nigel Farage has insisted that proponents should not be portrayed as far-right for advocating strong national identity. He has said, "We have had enough of being called far-right simply because we believe in tough border controls and our national identity."

The movement’s reach has extended into a debate on heritage, national identity, and public space, with some local authorities pulling down banners and flags from council infrastructure on health and safety grounds. Its organizers have acknowledged donations from various groups, including Britain First, which has denied accusations of far-right extremism, while other backers have been associated with allied groups such as Tommy Robinson’s networks. In Nottingham, authorities stressed that Goosey’s vandalism is not a political statement and that police are pursuing those responsible through standard criminal investigations. The case remains open as investigators review additional footage and corroborating evidence from residents and commuters who passed the roundabout on September 3.