Bailiffs get New Powers

from the times newspaper


Bailiffs Get Powers To Use Force On Debtors



The government has been accused of trampling on individual liberties by proposing wide-ranging new powers for bailiffs to break into homes and to use “reasonable force” against householders who try to protect their valuables.

Under the regulations, bailiffs for private firms would for the first time be given permission to restrain or pin down householders. They would also be able to force their way into homes to seize property to pay off debts, such as unpaid credit card bills and loans.

The government, which wants to crack down on people who evade debts, says the new powers would be overseen by a robust industry watchdog. However, the laws are being criticised as the latest erosion of the rights of the householder in his own home.

“These laws strip away tried and tested protections that make a person’s home his castle, and which have stood for centuries,” said Paul Nicolson, chairman of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, a London-based welfare charity. “They could clearly lead to violent confrontations and undermine fundamental liberties.”

Bailiffs have for hundreds of years been denied powers to break into homes for civil debt or to use force against debtors, except in self-defence. In a famous declaration, William Pitt the Elder, the 18th-century prime minister, said: “The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the crown.” Ministers have now proposed bailiffs be given powers to physically remove debtors who try to defend their property, for example by draping themselves over a car or blocking the door of their home. Lord Bach, a junior justice minister, has assured the House of Lords that any new powers will be implemented only after a consultation and will not be used to search debtors’ pockets or to remove jewellery.
It emerged last week that Her Majesty’s Courts Service has already handed out guidance to privately employed bailiffs, pointing out that under legislation passed in 2004 they can already break down doors as a last resort to collect court fines.
Some restraint should be exercised, according to the “search and entry powers” guidelines. “If a person locks himself in their home, it might be reasonable to break open the door, but probably not to smash a hole in the wall,” it advises.
Details of the new guidelines were obtained under freedom of information laws. They say homes should not be broken into when nobody is in. Reasonable grounds for breaking down the door include the “movement of a curtain”, a radio being heard or a figure being spotted inside which “may be the offender”.
It is claimed these powers are already abused. In one case, an 89-year-old grandmother returned home to find a bailiff sitting in her chair having drawn up a list of her possessions. He was pursuing a parking fine owed by her son, who did not even live at the address.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5375668.ece



Nice...

All in the name of Xmas spirit...
(lol... will find some positive Xmas news today honest)

FUCK THAT i'd kick fuck out of them before they got in my gaff

lol...
I think this is ridiculous...
Maybe worth getting a big dog...lol

Oh! And just in time for repossessions and seizures!
Just a coincidence nothing to worry about....

After all the good guys from government are doing their absolute best to keep families in their homes and help people through this hard financial times

Not being funny, but i work in the repossession industry, and thats not far off the powers they have now, they can't pin down anybody, or touch them in any way, but i doubt that these laws will change the way repossessions, or the way bailiffs act much

lol...seriously sjf?

awesome, you and Dong gonna have to have an arm wrestle when you pop round to take away his xbox and games...

“These laws strip away tried and tested protections that make a person’s home his castle, and which have stood for centuries,” said Paul Nicolson, chairman of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, a London-based welfare charity.

That made me laugh considering that if someone you don't know breaks into your house, and you confront them and "defend" your propety and people in it, then the coppers pull you for "Assault", "Breach of the peace" and what ever else they can sum up. Then to cap it all the feking person who broke in can sue you??!!!!!!

Pass me shot gun, it wil stop the twat sueing anyway.

LOL...VERY VERY TRUE KNIKKI...

Haha I like your style Knikki!

Problem I have with stuff like this is what happens when two people live in the same property, everything belongs to person A, but person B gets themselves into debt where these guys would be called out?

I would smash the nuts of anyone who tried to take my stuff for someone elses debt, but how would they know what they could or couldn't take?

Politicians don't really think things through properly, do they?

When ballifs turned up at my brothers house they had 2 rozzers in toe,not as if they needed them as they were both like brick shit houses.
They cleaned my brother out that day and not an ounce of remorse was shown by the hitman and her,but then again they are only doing a job...

Eyetrip wrote:Problem I have with stuff like this is what happens when two people live in the same property, everything belongs to person A, but person B gets themselves into debt where these guys would be called out?

I would smash the nuts of anyone who tried to take my stuff for someone elses debt, but how would they know what they could or couldn't take?

Politicians don't really think things through properly, do they?

As far as what your saying mate, if its a mortgage repossession, it will only be the house that would be taken away, and you then get a set amount of days (usually 14) to clear your property of its belongings before they get taken away. And if its a debt collection, like someone hasnt paid for their gas for a year, then you just point them in the way of the other guys stuff, they have no possession warrant over your belongings, unless the unpaid bills are in your name :P

As for knowing what they can or cant take, you just have to not act a complete dick to the bailiff, and they'll generally act reasonably okay to you, as in, they wont take your stuff :P


And as for that hand Wrestle, im up for it, if it gets me some more games :D haha!