Bailiffs to wear bodycams to tackle bullying

BAILIFFS will be required by law to wear body-worn cameras amid fears they are intimidating and threatening householders.

The Ministry of Justice is also considering a new regulator to clean up the industry amid evidence that a third of people in debt visited by bailiffs have been subjected to “harmful” behaviour including illegal threats to break into their homes.

Paul Maynard, a justice minister, said: “The use of intimidation and aggression by some bailiffs is utterly unacceptable, and it is right we do all we can to tackle such behaviour.

“While most bailiffs act above board, body-worn cameras will provide greater security for all involved – not least consumers, who are often vulnerable.

More than 2.3million debts were referred to bailiffs in 2016-17, according to data obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the Money Advice Trust, a charity.

Enforcement agents are allowed to charge £75 for sending a letter and £235 for a home visit, further inflating people’s debts

Citizens Advice estimated that 39 per cent of the 2.2million people contacted by bailiffs in the last two years had seen bailiffs break the rules.

These included telling people they can break entry into their house when they did not have the right to do so, or threatening to take control of “exempt” goods. These are goods that belong to someone else or which people need for their trade.

Ministers say compulsory bodyworn footage will provide victims of bullying tactics with evidence to support complaints and to demand action.