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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. |