Alliance will stop big brother style rates police

11.30.01am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Oct 2006

Belfast Alliance Councillor, Tom Ekin

Former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tom Ekin, has slammed the idea of rates inspectors demanding entry to homes and fining people up to £1,000 if they are not granted access. He stated that these measures revealed in the local media are disgraceful and are creating a big brother style system.

The Balmoral Alliance Party Councillor said: "I am appalled that such punitive measures are even being contemplated by the government.

"Intrusive inspectors and massive fines are creating a big brother style system where government believes it can barge into people's homes whenever it likes.

"This move is a gross infringement on people's privacy and must be prevented immediately.

"Are Direct Rule Ministers setting out to deliberately scare people? This issue emphasises the fact that we need the Assembly up and running, and we need rid of the scaremongering Direct Rule Ministers.

"I understand that currently government needs to assess property values; however this type of action is draconian.

"Using the Alliance solution to the rates crisis we would prevent this intrusive scheme, because we would scrap rates hikes and replace them with a fair income tax. This would be based on people's ability to pay, not the value of the property."

ENDS