Private firms may be given arrest powers

PRIVATE firms may be given powers of arrest for the first time.

The proposal would allow companies such as G4S to arrest individuals for failing to pay fines imposed by the courts.

It would mean HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) privatising part of its operations in a deal worth £290million.

The measures were slipped out as a tender by the Ministry of Justice during the summer.

Under the proposal, the Government could transfer all services carried out by Civilian Enforcement Officers, who are civil servants employed by HMCTS, to the private sector – including arrest and detention of those who fail to pay debts.

The courts already allow authorised agencies, including private firms, to send bailiffs to a person’s home to seize possessions to encourage them to pay up.

But this would be a sweeping expansion of the powers – covering so- called warrants of arrest, which are issued by JPs to compel a person to attend court.

The tender document in August said: ‘MoJ would also like to explore the potential transfer of service of all warrants currently executed by Civilian Enforcement Officers … covering fines and community penalty breaches.’ The consultation was due to end today.

A HMCTS spokesman said: ‘ We have robust processes in place to ensure agency staff comply to the same standards as HMCTS staff … we are in discussion with providers to extend the work of enforcement agencies and will make further announcements in due course.’