Members of a group have erected flags in Birmingham in a "criminal" way that causes "danger, injury, alarm and distress", a court has been told.
The city council is seeking an emergency injunction against members of Raise the Colours, who have flown thousands of union jacks and St George's flags from lamp-posts and bridges in the city.
Jonathan Manning, representing the authority at the city's High Court hearing, said people had reported feeling "significantly less safe" following a series of violent and threatening incidents, including one man who suffered a broken leg when hit by a cherry picker.
Ryan Bridge, founder of Raise the Colours, said in a statement he would fight the action and that he was trying to bring pride back to the area.