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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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Illustration of a woman looking worried, surrounded by dozens of sheets of red paper.

Reports

‘They needed to know how wrong this was’: one woman’s battle against council bailiffs

Bristol City Council claims to have an ‘ethical’ debt collection policy, but has sent bailiffs to thousands of vulnerable residents’ doors. After pressure from ACORN, the council has finally committed to investigate.

Council still hounding people with bailiffs after ‘ethical’ approach promise

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

Boot Out Bailiffs

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

Use of bailiffs has fallen off a cliff since July.

Boot Out Bailiffs

Charities call on councils nationwide to follow Bristol on bailiffs

Boot Out Bailiffs

The BBC on the breakthrough to #bootoutbailiffs

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

Bailiffs chasing you for debt is scary, but there is help on hand.

Breakthrough: Council takes step towards booting out bailiffs

Thousands of people's lives could be made better, following a Bristol Cable campaign.

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

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