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| Bailiffs to be banned from using aggressive tactics | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sweeping changes to the way bailiffs can enforce the repayment of debts come into force on Sunday. | Sweeping changes to the way bailiffs can enforce the repayment of debts come into force on Sunday. |
| The new laws include a ban on bailiffs entering homes at night and from using physical force against debtors. | The new laws include a ban on bailiffs entering homes at night and from using physical force against debtors. |
| Bailiffs will also be prevented from entering properties when only children are present, and from taking household essentials such as cookers and washing machines. | Bailiffs will also be prevented from entering properties when only children are present, and from taking household essentials such as cookers and washing machines. |
| Bailiffs are estimated to collect four million debts a year in the UK. | Bailiffs are estimated to collect four million debts a year in the UK. |
| Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Aggressive bailiff activity is unacceptable and it is high time that the cowboys out there are stopped from giving the rest of this important industry a bad name. | Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Aggressive bailiff activity is unacceptable and it is high time that the cowboys out there are stopped from giving the rest of this important industry a bad name. |
| "People will still have to face up to their debts, but they will no longer need to fear their home being raided at night, the threat of violence or having their vital household equipment seized." | "People will still have to face up to their debts, but they will no longer need to fear their home being raided at night, the threat of violence or having their vital household equipment seized." |
| 'Seize this opportunity' | 'Seize this opportunity' |
| Some bailiffs' organisations have previously welcomed the legal changes, saying reforms were overdue and the problem of aggressive bailiffs needed to be tackled. | Some bailiffs' organisations have previously welcomed the legal changes, saying reforms were overdue and the problem of aggressive bailiffs needed to be tackled. |
| The new rules will also: | The new rules will also: |
| The changes come into effect on 6 April and follow a Ministry of Justice consultation on the debt collection industry last year. | The changes come into effect on 6 April and follow a Ministry of Justice consultation on the debt collection industry last year. |
| They are part of a wider package of reforms to the Tribunals, Courts & Enforcement Act 2007. | They are part of a wider package of reforms to the Tribunals, Courts & Enforcement Act 2007. |
| Jo Salter from the centre-left think tank Demos said it had heard from "countless families about how the aggressive use of bailiffs played a big part in the emotional harm being caused by debt". | Jo Salter from the centre-left think tank Demos said it had heard from "countless families about how the aggressive use of bailiffs played a big part in the emotional harm being caused by debt". |
| "The actions of bailiffs could often overwhelm peoples' rational ability to deal with the debt itself," he added. | "The actions of bailiffs could often overwhelm peoples' rational ability to deal with the debt itself," he added. |
| Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "It's important bailiffs seize this opportunity to transform into a responsible industry that understands the difference between people who can't pay and people who won't pay. We'll be watching to see if that really does happen." | Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "It's important bailiffs seize this opportunity to transform into a responsible industry that understands the difference between people who can't pay and people who won't pay. We'll be watching to see if that really does happen." |
| She added: "What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck off if bailiffs break the rules." | She added: "What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck off if bailiffs break the rules." |