Council defends summonses over council tax payments

A Labour council leader has defended issuing court summonses to thousands of benefit claimants for not paying council tax in one of London's poorest boroughs.

Brent Council has issued almost 3,500 summons to residents on benefits over non payment of council tax.

Since April, when council tax benefit was scrapped, the council has asked residents for payment of some of the money who were previously exempt.

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt said court summonses were the only way to get people to engage with the council and said residents would be offered help.

BBC London's Tim Donovan reports