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ACORN return to bailiffs to protest ‘harassment and intimidation’
ACORN members in Bristol have been protesting outside a bailiffs for the second time in less than a month.
Around 20 members gathered outside the offices of Able Enforcements in St Anne’s to protest again alleged “harassment and intimidation”.
The group blocked access to their offices, after contacting the companies who operate from the same building ahead of the action, explaining the situation and encouraging them to work from home.
is needed now More than ever
Acorn Bristol were giving out leaflets – photo: Hannah Massoudi
ACORN Bristol, a community union of low to moderate income people, recently began a campaign against bailiff use in the city called Boot the Bailiffs.
The campaign is against councils using bailiffs to collect council tax and demanding they implement a more humane debt management system
A freedom of information request filed by the union found that one in eight Bristolian households had bailiffs sent round for council tax debts alone. As of October 18 2024, the outstanding Council Tax balances was £27,146.
Members of ACORN reported that despite the council’s supposedly ‘ethical’ debt collection policy, vulnerable people were regularly getting bailiff visits, indicating that the council’s policy doesn’t work, and isn’t fit for purpose.
While not referring to Able Enforcements, ACORN have said that one ACORN member Lee, a vulnerable mum in just £114 of debt to the council, was told by a bailiff two weeks ago that her medically proven vulnerability “doesn’t matter” and was refused the option of setting up an affordable payment plan until ACORN stepped in.
Lee said she felt “intimidated and afraid”.
ACORN are demanding that the council stops sending “bullying bailiffs to intimidate and harass Bristolians who are unable to pay, in particular vulnerable people”.
They are demanding that Able Enforcements give printed information to people they visit detailing their rights, they say this request has previously been refused.
ACORN have also said that they have met with a whistleblower who used to work at local bailiff company Able Enforcements, who told them that Able bosses encourage their bailiffs to lie and misrepresent their powers, exploiting the public’s lack of knowledge of bailiff’s regulations.
ACORN are asking that Bristol City Council drop Able as a contractor, as the whistleblower’s testimony claims that the company have routinely broken Ministry of Justice rules regulating bailiff behaviour.
In a statement sent to Bristol24/7 on Monday morning, Able Enforcements aid: “Able does not, nor ever has carried out any form of residential debt collection. For any Local Authority since the company’s inception.
“This is an active police investigation, no further statements or communications will be made until after the police have finished their investigations.”
Bristol24/7 has contacted Bristol City Council for comment but is yet to receive one.
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Protesters from ACORN had previously taken direct action at the offices at Riverside Business Park on November 11 for Bristol City Council’s use of the bailiffs to collect council debt.
An incident occurred in which several members of the group were locked inside before a physical altercation took place, which was caught on video.
Abbie from Acorn said about the November 11 incident: “They were shocked at how quickly these supposed trained ‘de-escalators’ leapt to violence & how willingly they did so knowing they were on camera.
“Even as the door was finally opened after minutes of chanting ‘Let Us Out’, ACORN members at the protest were still being thrown and dragged around, including one who was restrained by his genitals whilst trying to leave.”
In a statement about this earlier incident, Avon and Somerset police said: “Enquiries are taking place following an altercation involving a number of individuals that occurred at a business premises in St Anne’s Park in Bristol at about 1pm on Monday 11 November.
“Officers attended the scene and we have received allegations and counter-allegations of assault.
“Enquiries, including reviewing footage of the disturbance, are ongoing.”
Main photo: Hannah Massoudi
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