The rise of the Freeman of the Land.... How Courts & Councils are coming under pressure....

The Rise of the "Freeman of the Land" Movement How both Courts & Local Councils across the country are coming up against increasing resistance & hostility from a once little known group....

19th November 2024

In recent years, local councils across the country have faced mounting challenges in recovering unpaid council tax, a problem that's said to have been exacerbated by the growing influence of the so-called "Freeman of the Land" (FotL) individuals. This movement, characterised by its members' as a rejection of conventional legal frameworks and their reliance on pseudo-legal arguments, has not only caused significant problems for local councils' in their efforts to collect what many now claim to be an outdated & regressive Council Tax, but is also said to be placing increased pressure on the judicial system, particularly magistrates' courts.

What is the "Freeman of the Land" Movement?

The FotL ideology is rooted in the belief that individuals can exempt themselves from the jurisdiction of the law by declaring themselves "freemen" or sovereign citizens. They often argue that statutory obligations, such as paying council tax, are not legally binding because they did not "consent" to them. These arguments, while repeatedly debunked in courts, have gained considerable traction among a small but growing number of people, thanks to the proliferation of social media and online forums promoting these ideas.

Impact on Council Tax Recovery

Council tax has long been a bone of contention for many, who claim its now significantly outdated, with little movement from the government to implement a more fairer system of funding local councils & public services. However, FotL adherents have increasingly targeted council tax as a focal point of their resistance, prompting many local councils to publish guidance to locals over the increasing movement which in many terms has significantly disrupted the operations of both local councils & the courts who seek to enforce the now highly outdated Council Tax system.

Councils are said to be reporting that these individuals are regularly bombarding them with significantly lengthy, pseudo-legal correspondence, demanding proofs of jurisdiction or asserting that council tax is unlawful. These tactics, known by some councils as "paper terrorism," have been found to be highly effective in delaying enforcement processes, draining administrative resources, and, in some cases, successfully discouraging some local councils from pursuing debts.

The financial implications are said to be 'significant'. In 2023 alone, its been reported that councils were shouldering over £5 billion in unpaid council tax, and whilst not all of this is said to be attributable to the Freedom of the Land movement, their activities have undeniably contributed to the growing arrears. For allegedly 'cash-strapped councils' said to be struggling with budget cuts, this loss of revenue is said to be exacerbating their ability to provide essential services, leaving taxpayers to bear the brunt although this is widely disputed.

Even the Magistrates’ Courts are starting to feel the effect..

Magistrates’ courts, which handle the bulk of council tax enforcement cases, are also feeling the strain. Increasingly, FotL adherents are appearing in court hearings in person armed with reams of legal arguments and voluminous documents that magistrates must sift through.

These arguments, often drawn from discredited sources, include claims such as:

• Council tax is a "contract" requiring consent.

• Birth certificates create a "legal fiction," separating a person from their debts.

• Magistrates have no authority because they are not "true courts of law."

While the vast majority of these claims are routinely dismissed by whats claimed to be 'biased' courts, their proliferation leads to lengthy drawn out hearings, creating considerable backlogs and diverting judicial resources from other cases.

Court staff and legal advisers have reportedly also faced growing harassment, with some FotL individuals accusing them of corruption or fraud. The presence of such individuals in court has prompted calls for enhanced security and additional training for magistrates and court staff to manage these situations effectively as more & more people seek to challenge the court on matters of council tax in person placing visible strains on the courts ability to function.

Legal Challenges and Wider Implications

The increase in FotL-related legal challenges is not said to be confined to council tax cases. Courts are also dealing with FotL adherents in disputes over parking fines, utility bills, and even criminal cases. This trend has sparked concerns among legal experts about the erosion of public trust in the judiciary. Efforts to counter the movement have included heavily backed council public awareness campaigns and targeted legal reforms. Some councils are also said to be exploring the use of online enforcement tools to bypass the need for court hearings, whilst legal professionals advocate for clearer penalties for frivolous litigation to deter whats claimed to be increasingly effective FotL tactics..

A Growing Concern for Local Councils, but public support for the movement is increasing.

The rise of the Freeman of the Land movement is more than just an alleged 'nuisance' for councils and courts—it said to be a growing national issue that's rapidly undermining the principles of legal accountability and fairness. As councils struggle to recover revenues and magistrates' courts facing mounting pressures as more & more people seek to challenge their council tax bills in the court, councils claim there's a pressing need for coordinated action.

In a report which went to Durham County Councils finance committee in June 2024, its claimed challenges from the group known as The Freeman of the Land is increasing year on year, challenging the legality of Council Tax and all recovery actions. They are known to disrupt and frustrate liability court hearings by attending in person, challenging the lawfulness of the liability order, and challenging the reasonableness of the costs.

Other than frustrating the process these actions to little other than to draw attention to all aspect of actions taken by the Council.

But some campaigners in support of the movement claim that Durham Councils attitudes to the movement itself underpins the necessity for all individuals to directly challenge the councils by attending the court in person as is their right to do so & that councils are themselves attempting to dispense summary justice against those who cant or fail to pay by using the court as their own 'Kangaroo Court' setting, causing more hostility to be drawn towards the courts as being complicit in the erosion of a persons human rights.

Several MP's including Hartlepool's newest elected MP Jonathan Brash has commissioned an parliamentary group to address the increasing issues relating to council tax & calling for its to be replaced with a fairer system of funding.

Branding the current system as "hammering local residents" Labour MP Mr Brash highlighted the stark contrast between Council Taxes in Hartlepool against Council Tax in Westminster, calling upon the government to replace the "outdated" system of council tax with a fairer funding model, with many believing that should the current system fail to change, the UK could be on the brink of seeing the re-emergence of the 1990s poll tax riots, in a move coming just months after the UK seen its worst riots in decades, as public anger reaches breaking point.