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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bailiff powers in England and Wales cut under new laws | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Bailiffs are to be banned from entering homes at night and from | Bailiffs are to be banned from entering homes at night and from |
| using physical force against debtors under new laws coming into effect | using physical force against debtors under new laws coming into effect |
| this weekend. | this weekend. |
| Further changes will also prevent enforcement agents from entering | Further changes will also prevent enforcement agents from entering |
| properties where only children are at home and from taking vital | properties where only children are at home and from taking vital |
| household essentials such as cookers, microwaves, fridges or washing | household essentials such as cookers, microwaves, fridges or washing |
| machines. | machines. |
| Bailiffs, who collect roughly four million debts each year, will | Bailiffs, who collect roughly four million debts each year, will |
| also have to be trained and certified to practise under a shake-up of | also have to be trained and certified to practise under a shake-up of |
| laws designed to bring an end to aggressive behaviour. | laws designed to bring an end to aggressive behaviour. |
| Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, said: "People will still have to face up to their debts but they will no | Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, said: "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 | longer need to fear their home being raided at night, the threat of |
| violence or having their vital household equipment seized. | violence or having their vital household equipment seized. |
| "We are stamping out bad practice and making sure bailiffs play by the rules. Those who don't will be banned." | "We are stamping out bad practice and making sure bailiffs play by the rules. Those who don't will be banned." |
| Bailiffs will also have to give seven days' notice before taking possessions unless they have specific permission from a court. | Bailiffs will also have to give seven days' notice before taking possessions unless they have specific permission from a court. |
| The reforms come into effect on 6 April and are part of a wider | The reforms come into effect on 6 April and are part of a wider |
| package under changes to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act | package under changes to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act |
| 2007. | 2007. |
| Jo Salter, researcher at the think-tank Demos, said its research had shown "aggressive" behaviour by bailiffs played a big part in the | Jo Salter, researcher at the think-tank Demos, said its research had shown "aggressive" behaviour by bailiffs played a big part in the |
| emotional harm caused to families by debt. | emotional harm caused to families by debt. |
| "Council tax arrears is an example of one type of debt that many | "Council tax arrears is an example of one type of debt that many |
| said resulted in bailiffs getting involved. The actions of bailiffs | said resulted in bailiffs getting involved. The actions of bailiffs |
| could often overwhelm people's rational ability to deal with the debt | could often overwhelm people's rational ability to deal with the debt |
| itself. As a result our research showed that arrears can often be just | itself. As a result our research showed that arrears can often be just |
| as harmful to people as payday loans." | as harmful to people as payday loans." |
| The Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "We help with 1,000 bailiff problems a week. | The Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "We help with 1,000 bailiff problems a week. |
| People have reported bailiffs giving debt letters to their children and | People have reported bailiffs giving debt letters to their children and |
| threatening violence. These new rules reflect just how out of control | threatening violence. These new rules reflect just how out of control |
| the industry is and are a welcome step towards protecting people in | the industry is and are a welcome step towards protecting people in |
| debt. | debt. |
| "What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff | "What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff |
| firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck | firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck |
| off if bailiffs break the rules." | off if bailiffs break the rules." |
| • This article was amended on 4 April 2014. An earlier version of the headline referred to the new laws as applying to the UK rather than England and Wales. |