Protest over bailiffs halts road deaths meeting

Police were called to Bradford City Hall after a council meeting about road deaths in the district was disrupted by people protesting about the use of bailiffs.

During the meeting a group of people stood up, unfurled a banner and began speaking about bailiffs visiting the home of an elderly person, who had fallen behind on council tax payments.

The group were asked to stop speaking and allow the meeting to continue, but they continued to speak, demanding the council end its use of bailiffs.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Officers who were at the meeting spoke with the protesters, who left the building without further incident."

The protest, which took place at a meeting of the authority's Corporate Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, saw some of the group members reveal they were wearing t-shirts with the logo of the Acorn community union group, a national organisation of tenants, workers and residents.

Councillor Nazam Azam, chair of the committee, remonstrated with the protesters, but when the disruption continued council members and speakers left the room and the police and security staff were called.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, after about 20 minutes the protesters and police left, and the meeting continued.

Police later told Azam the protesters had wanted him to accept some documents, which he refused to do. It was also revealed one group member had been filming the meeting.

After the meeting had reconvened Azam said: "I was unaware that any of this would be taking place, although I'm sure someone in the room did know.

"I don't mind being filmed, but I don't want disruption of that kind taking place.

"All they had to do was put a request in to be allowed to speak."

Referring to the paperwork the group members had attempted to hand to him, Azam said: "To have all that disruption and then to just accept a letter off them, sorry, that is not how I operate."

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