Stop private bailiffs enforcing unpaid fines

The Issue

Recently, a 51 year-old woman was seriously-injured after a private bailiff, working for a company under contract to H.M. Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), illegally entered her home and whose violent behaviour resulted in her being sent crashing down a flight of 13 steps and necessitating hospital treatment. The police have yet to arrest the bailiff for assault. Despite the woman having an unblemished character and not owing any fines, the bailiff and his employers ignored emails to them from the woman after she received threatening letters addressed to another person. HMCTS employs its own enforcement officers, who are publicly-accountable, to enforce unpaid fines. In some areas, police officers enforce unpaid fines. Private bailiffs are unregulated and unaccountable. HMCTS are urged to cancel the contracts of ALL private bailiff companies enforcing unpaid fines, on its behalf, IMMEDIATELY, before someone else is seriously-injured or, even, killed by private bailiffs ignoring the law and using intimidation and violence to achieve their objectives.

This petition had 52 supporters

The Issue

Recently, a 51 year-old woman was seriously-injured after a private bailiff, working for a company under contract to H.M. Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), illegally entered her home and whose violent behaviour resulted in her being sent crashing down a flight of 13 steps and necessitating hospital treatment. The police have yet to arrest the bailiff for assault. Despite the woman having an unblemished character and not owing any fines, the bailiff and his employers ignored emails to them from the woman after she received threatening letters addressed to another person. HMCTS employs its own enforcement officers, who are publicly-accountable, to enforce unpaid fines. In some areas, police officers enforce unpaid fines. Private bailiffs are unregulated and unaccountable. HMCTS are urged to cancel the contracts of ALL private bailiff companies enforcing unpaid fines, on its behalf, IMMEDIATELY, before someone else is seriously-injured or, even, killed by private bailiffs ignoring the law and using intimidation and violence to achieve their objectives.

The Decision Makers

Ministry of Justice, UK
Ministry of Justice, UK

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on 21 August 2012