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Boot Out Bailiffs

There’s a long tradition of campaigning journalism in local media. In our Annual General Meeting in 2017, Cable members gave the go ahead for the co-op to carry on this tradition.

Taking this lead, the Cable is launching a campaign to call on the council and mayor to stop using private hired muscle in the form of bailiffs to collect council tax debts.

Support this campaign

The extensive use of bailiffs by the council has dramatic and negative effects for tens of thousands of people in Bristol. Crucially, there are viable alternatives for families, communities and our city.

We’re calling on the Mayor and all political parties to commit to investigating alternative methods of collecting council tax, and begin a complete phase-out of the use of bailiffs.

Our campaign will include a series of investigations, strong voices and compelling arguments for alternatives, as we bring together individuals and organisations across the city who know that booting out the bailiffs is the right and necessary thing to do.

This campaign has now ended, with success! We were also nominated for a British Journalism Award for Campaign of the Year!

#bootoutbailiffs

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Image of bailiffs during an eviction at a home in Easton, Bristol (credit: Alex Turner)

Reports

Mum-of-two ‘dragged downstairs naked’ during brutal eviction for historic debt to council

An Easton family was forced into temporary accommodation after activists and neighbours were unable to halt 'disgusting' action by High Court bailiffs.

Bad news for bailiffs, good news for citizens as council slashes use

Charities call on councils nationwide to follow Bristol on bailiffs

Boot Out Bailiffs

The BBC on the breakthrough to #bootoutbailiffs

BBC coverage of the campaign calling on the council to stop using bailiffs, made possible by the Cable and others.

Boot Out Bailiffs

Where to get help if you are facing bailiffs at your door

Boot Out Bailiffs

Breakthrough: Council takes step towards booting out bailiffs

The Cable view: A development for justice in this city, with the help of Cable members

The Cable led calls from across the city to #bootoutbailiffs - and we’re being heard.

Opinion: Our mayor has an open goal opportunity to help thousands. Will he take it?

There is a strong moral and financial case to drop the medieval practice of enforcing debts with hired heavies.

“He said that he was nearby, and was going to come over and take my things”

This woman’s story of being on the sharp-end of the council’s debt collection policies.

A rapper has made a track to #bootoutbailiffs

This local rapper is using his skills to call on the council to #bootoutbailiffs

“I owed £1. Bailiffs and the council forced me to pay £311″

This mum and carer was forced to pay 311 times more than the debt she owed.

The Labour councillor calling time on council bailiffs

He has been on the sharp end, and now wants to change how the council collects debt.

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