News Desk - 00:15 22/12/08

Under new powers introduced by this Government your home will no longer be immune from being entered by bailiffs, with new powers given to private contractors to remove debtors who prevent belongings being seized.

Under English law the home was always protected from bailiffs but under new laws allowable under legislation already passed by Parliament but not yet enacted, bailiffs would be given the right to restrain or pin down householders.

Bailiffs are projecting a huge increase in business in 2009 as tens of thousands of people experience financial problems during the forthcoming recession.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has forecast that 75,000 homes will be repossessed next year and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be pursued for unpaid debts.

Currently the law provides that bailiffs can break into people's homes when the owner is suspected of being inside, but this may be altered.

The Government insists that any new powers would be overseen by an industry watchdog. Bailiffs would also be barred from searching people's pockets or forcibly removing jewelry.

The Sunday Telegraph reported the Ministry of Justice comment:

"The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 makes a number of important reforms to bailiff law that will do away with archaic and complex legislation. This will help debtors, creditors, bailiffs and the police understand what their rights and responsibilities are when debts have to be enforced. These reforms are part of a package of measures that will address concerns that have been raised about the behaviour of bailiffs.

"The options for implementing the enforcement provisions within the Act are, at present, being considered and an announcement will be made in due course."