Meet the people who are banned by Glasgow City Council
‘ Unacceptable actions policy’ sparked move
FOUR people are banned from council buildings in Glasgow under ‘ behaviour rules’. The unacceptable actions policy has led to bans for those the council deems to either present a risk to staff or who it says are continually contacting staff about the same issue when their concerns have been addressed.
The Glasgow Times obtained the number of people banned and has spoken with three people who say they have been banned from premises or limited in their contact with the council.
They say it is ‘ designed to prevent them from challenging authority’ and representing people with problems.
We asked the council how many people are currently banned from its premises under the Unacceptable Actions Policy. We were told the number of people was four.
We also asked how many people currently have their contact with the council restricted under the Unacceptable Actions Policy. The answer is 148.
Alex O’Kane, a community campaigner in North Glasgow, said he has been “banned” for more than three years.
Mr O’Kane, who manages the No1seems2care website and regularly campaigns on social issues, received a letter telling him his communication is “vexatious” and he can only contact the council in writing.
He said: “It hasn’t been reassessed or revoked. I’m still banned.
“I need to work around it to continue to represent people
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which is what I do. It was designed to hurt me and make it look like I was doing something wrong. Which I wasn’t.”
He said it doesn’t prevent him from helping people in the community.
He added: “When I was banned, I had 22,000 followers on the site. Now I have 87,000. It’s a badge of honour.”
Sean Clerkin, a housing and anti- homelessness campaigner and Scottish independence activist, is also banned.
He said: “I have never had a full explanation for why I am banned. I have been since 2014 when I was campaigning against ATOS becoming a sponsor of the Commonwealth Games. A month later I was banned.
“I represent people with problems like housing. This leaves me locked out of contacting people in positions of power.
“It is a denial of democracy.
It is a way of trying to control people who are trying to challenge authority.”
Colin Deans is a former city councillor and has been active in his community in the south of the city for more than 20 years.
He said he is barred from the local, council- owned community hub, having been notified by the management last September.
Mr Deans said he is not aware of the full reason and said if he has said or done something he shouldn’t have he would retract it.
The 81- year- old said: “No specifics” have been given about the ban.
He added: “My reputation has been questioned and I am offended by it. There must be a misunderstanding.
“If I have said or done anything I would issue a retraction. If they can do this to me, an 81 year- old who has served the community for a long time, they can do it to anyone.”
Mr Deans was elected as an SNP councillor in 2007 but left to join Labour amid claims of bullying.
Some bans issued have been lifted.
In each of the last five years, ten bans have been issued to individuals.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City council said: “We are unable to discuss individual cases.
“Glasgow City Chambers, and all council premises, are public buildings and, as such, the council has a duty of care to its staff and members of the public who use these buildings.”