Flags showing integrity (9)
I believe the answer is:
standards
'flags' is the definition.
(standard is a kind of flag)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for standards that I've seen before include "Benchmarks, norms (9)" , "Detest" , "Reference points for comparison" , "Flags or benchmarks" , "Touchstones, criteria" .)