‘Aggressive’ bailiffs ordered to wear body cameras
Intimidating tactics are rife in debt industry, charities warn
People in debt are to be given greater protection from aggressive behaviour by bailiffs, who are to be ordered to wear cameras under government plans.
British debt charities have warned that intimidating tactics are rife within the industry and are particularly distressing for those considered vulnerable such as the elderly and people with a serious illness or disability.
Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline, welcomed the introduction of cameras but said the measure was not nearly enough to resolve “systemic problems” in the bailiff industry.
“Our debt advisers hear day in, day out the harm being caused by bailiff action – and this goes far beyond a few so-called ‘rogue bailiffs’,” Ms Elson said. “Body-worn cameras should be just one small part of a much wider system of independent regulation, accompanied by an easily accessible complaints mechanism, as the Justice Select Committee has recommended.”
The requirement to wear cameras comes in addition to recent moves to improve standards in the industry, which is largely unregulated.
People struggling to deal with their debts will also be allowed 60 days’ “breathing space” from 2021 during which creditors will not be able to chase payments. During this period individuals must engage with professional debt advisers, so they can find a long-term solution to their debts and get back on track with payments.
Citizens Advice warned that body-worn cameras would do nothing to protect people without a bailiff regulator to oversee how they are used.
“While it’s encouraging the government has committed to further action, its next step must be the creation of an independent regulator to crack down on rule-breaking bailiffs,” said the charity’s chief executive Gillian Guy.
As criticism of Britain’s bailiffs mounts, concerns have also grown that rising debt is becoming unsustainable for many households.
The number of people defaulting on their credit card debt soared in the first six months of the year to the highest level since early 2017, Bank of England figures show. Research by the Money Advice Trust has shown that 2.3 million debts were passed to bailiffs by local authorities in England and Wales in 2016-17 – an increase of 14 per cent from 2014-15. Almost 1.4 million of these were council tax arrears.
Paul Maynard, the 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.”
Mr Maynard said he was “looking carefully” at further measures to improve regulation of bailiffs. The Ministry of Justice is working to make body-worn cameras compulsory for bailiffs as soon as possible.