Bailiffs are behaving fairly, ECB video evidence shows

Bailiffs are behaving fairly, ECB video evidence shows.

CIVEA has responded to a unique study of over 600 visits, in which independent analysis of enforcement agents showed that the vast majority of enforcement agents are treating people fairly and respectfully.

The research, commissioned by the Enforcement Conduct Board[1], shows that enforcement agents (formerly known as bailiffs) work to high standards and conduct themselves professionally when recovering debts owed to the government and local councils. In an independent analysis of body worn video footage, 94 percent of visits were found to be conducted well with people treated fairly and respectfully during an enforcement visit.

While there is still work to do, the industry led the establishment of the Enforcement Conduct Board to independently oversee conduct and maintain high standards, and this survey vindicates the vast majority of field agents that have been criticised in the past.

CIVEA members willingly co-operated with the independent oversight body to enable hours of randomly selected body worn video of enforcement visits to be scrutinised against industry regulations and standards. However, CIVEA will continue to work with its members to drive standards higher to address the problems in the small number of cases that the research identified.

Russell Hamblin-Boone, chief executive of CIVEA, said: “CIVEA welcomes this independent report and while the research identifies some infringement of the standards, it demonstrates that in 94% of interactions there is full compliance by enforcement agents.

We still have work to do to stamp out pockets of poor practice, but the camera doesn’t lie and the evidence is testament to the professionalism of enforcement agents that do a difficult job with respect and consideration.

We set up the ECB to lift the bonnet on our industry and look for repairs. The survey indicates that the engine is in good condition with some minor tuning.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

[1] https://enforcementconductboar...

CIVEA represents approximately 40 companies that make up more than 95% of the entire enforcement industry. We are not debt collectors and only undertake visits to premises after a local authority or public body has failed to recover funds and takes an individual to court and enforces the court order under the Taking Control of Goods regulations 2013.

Last year, enforcement agents collected £750m of unpaid council tax every year at no cost to councils. Councils rely on enforcement agents to recover unpaid council tax to pay for local services. Enforcement action is essential to cash-strapped councils that need to fund waste collection, road repairs, police and fire services, schools and libraries. Without money from council tax, these services could be reduced or even scrapped.

Enforcement agents also identified 351,000 vulnerable people who had lost contact with their council and unknown to anyone, were struggling with their payments. With limited resources, local authorities rely on enforcement agencies to identify people that are vulnerable but do not respond to council letters.

The launch of the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) in 2022 was the culmination of a ground-breaking partnership between the enforcement industry and the debt advice sector. The establishment of the ECB was heralded as a landmark moment and the next step towards an independent, industry oversight body.

Press Contact for CIVEA:

Rodney Kumar, WSA Communications Email: rodney.kumar@wsacommunications.co.uk

Telephone: 01908 371177