CAMPAIGNERS from community union Acorn stormed a Liverpool City Council meeting this evening to protest against the soaring use of bailiffs to chase council tax debts.

The number of bailiffs instructed by the council has increased by 40 per cent in the last year, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Money Advice Trust.

The council made 25,200 referrals – equivalent to almost 5 per cent of Liverpool’s population.

Chants of “bailiff free Britain” rang through the council chamber as campaigners highlighted the alarming numbers. One waved an Acorn flag while another held a sign reading “boot the bailiffs.”

Although security rushed to evict protesters from the meeting, the action was a success with council leader Liam Robinson signing a letter agreeing to meet with Acorn to discuss ways to change how the council collects debt.

Acorn branch secretary Martin Mawdsley said dialogue with the union had come to a halt after a positive council meeting in August, prompting them to take action.

“The council was supposed to be cutting down, but nearly 70 households a day in Liverpool are being referred to bailiffs – and since our last meeting with the council, several of our members and their neighbours have been visited by these bullies,” he said.

The action is part of a nationwide campaign across councils. Acorn is also demanding the end to imprisonment for council tax debt and for the government to commit to exploring council tax alternatives such as proportional property tax.

Liverpool City Council was contacted for comment.