Norwich protestors demand council stops using bailiffs

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A protest group accused of using menacing tactics staged a demonstration calling for City Hall to stop using bailiffs, saying they can be "intimidating".

About 40 people waited outside City Hall in the hope of confronting councillors leaving a meeting last week to demand the council cease using bailiff companies to collect unpaid fees.

Acorn protestors, including former Green councillor Jamie Osbourn, stand outside City Hall during a demonstration against the use of bailiffs (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Chants of "bailiff-free Britain" and "bailiff thugs off our streets" could be heard as the activists waited outside but the councillors did not appear as the meeting had ended earlier.

Members of the group described bailiffs "dressed like ninjas" turning up at their door.

It is the latest protest by Acorn, which describes itself as a 'union for working class people, tenants and workers' and has branches across the UK.

However, its own members have been accused of intimidating and harassing councillors through their tactics, which have included bombarding one councillor with 150 phone calls in a day.

Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for housing, was also surrounded by masked Acorn activists at a previous meeting, who proceeded to shout over her to prevent her from speaking.

Acorn protestors stand outside City Hall during a demonstration against the use of bailiffs (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Lisa Brown, Acorn Norwich branch chair, said: "In the middle of a deepening cost of living crisis, it's monstrous for the council to threaten struggling people with what are essentially paid thugs.

"We're demanding Norwich City Council stop using bailiffs to collect council tax arrears. No one should face intimidation from bailiffs, let alone the people in our community who are struggling the most."

However, officials at the council have said taking people to court and using bailiffs to recoup unpaid taxes is a "last resort" and that it will work with people genuinely struggling to afford to pay council tax.

A spokeswoman said it is "incredibly rare" that bailiffs are employed to recoup debts.

Acorn has not suggested what alternative methods should be used by Norwich City Council to recoup tax debts.

It instead believes council tax should be abolished in favour of an alternative system.

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