Candidate quit following ‘theft’ arrest

ONE of the residents of Barton house who led the campaign to improve fire safety in tower blocks has been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen property, after fire alarms being installed in the tower block went missing.

Shaban Ali, pictured, was the secretary of the Bristol branch of the community union Acorn and had been a Green Party candidate in May’s local election, but has stepped down from both following his arrest.

A police spokesman said: “We can confirm a 37-year-old man from the St Philips area of Bristol was arrested on February 7 on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The arrest was made following a report a number of fire alarms had been stolen from Barton house, on Aiken Street, St Philips. The man has been released under investigation and enquiries into the thefts are ongoing.” Neither the Green Party nor Mr Ali said they would comment on the matter while police investigations were continuing. Mr Ali is a resident of Barton house and, as the secretary of the Bristol branch of the tenants’ union Acorn, was prominent in campaigning for better treatment for residents of Barton house after the evacuation of the tower block back in November, regularly criticising the way the council was handling the evacuation and its communications with residents. he was also a key member of Acorn’s successful campaign to persuade Bristol City Council to allocate £100 million on better fire safety measures for tower blocks across Bristol, following a series of fires in tower blocks in Barton hill, Lawrence hill and Easton in the autumn of 2022, one of which was fatal.