A community union has delivered a petition to the town hall opposing bailiff council tax collections.
The document was presented inside a boot on Thursday by members who say the council should focus on “fair repayment plans and an ethical debt collection policy".
Acorn claimed that one in three people who have come into contact with bailiffs have experienced issues such as breaking into properties, lying about their powers and taking items needed for medical care or work.
A freedom of information request submitted by the union also found that during 2022, Brighton and Hove City Council only set up 680 repayment plans for council tax debt, while bailiffs were used nearly 3,000 times.
Poppy Burt, who chairs Acorn Brighton, said: “Bailiffs are brutal and unnecessary. These bullies traumatise our communities and leave people afraid of every knock on the door.
READ MORE: TSB: Brighton bank branch occupied by Acorn union protest
“The council needs to boot bailiffs out of our city for good.”
Councillor Jacob Taylor, cabinet member for finance and city regeneration on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “We know dealing with debt can be extremely stressful, especially during a cost-of-living crisis when household bills and costs are rising.
“We do everything we can to support residents who may be struggling to pay their council tax bills. We proactively look for signs of vulnerability, offer tailored advice and assistance, working with each household to agree on a realistic repayment plan.
"It’s also really important to note that households that receive council tax support are exempt from enforcement action and we follow the national guidelines for collecting council tax.
“So far in 2024/25 we have prevented enforcement action from having to be taken in over 2,000 cases where we have been able to make arrangements with residents to pay or we have identified other routes to resolve the case for them.
“Council tax income pays for essential services in the city particularly services for vulnerable people and enforcement is a necessary component of effective income and debt collection for all local authorities, but we do so with empathy and understanding.
“The council work with enforcement agencies who are required to show us how they protect the rights and dignity of our residents and how they respond to concerns and complaints. They also contribute to our Fairness Fund which helps support people in need.
“We monitor their performance and conduct closely and we expect them to comply with the law and our standards. We are proud to report that the ‘Stop the Knock’ review in 2022/23 found we met most of the best practice indicators for ethical and effective debt collection.
“Residents struggling financially can find more information about getting support at https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/cost-living-support."
In June, members of the Living Rent Campaign, an activist group that calls for improved rent controls, the expansion of council housing and an end to the right to buy scheme, held a protest outside the town hall.
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