Levelling up or knocking down? How the crisis of Council Tax debt is experienced across English local authorities

In recent years, Council Tax debt has become a growing problem. In parallel, there has been a rise in the use of aggressive debt collection methods, often involving bailiffs. Data on Council Tax debt collection practices reveal a correlation between deprivation levels in an area and the incidence of such methods, finds Joseph Spooner. Cuts to local government budgets and the removal of sources of support to cope with this debt have exacerbated the problem, with the cost-of-living crisis adding further pressure.