Enforcement under lock down at Quality Bailiffs
As an Ethical company of High Court Enforcement Officers providing High Court enforcement across England and Wales, we walk a difficult path.
We have to consider the duties and responsibilities bestowed upon our officer by the Courts Act 2003 to enforce writs and warrants and see the will of the court done so satisfy the claimant.
We also have to consider the overriding duty of care to be even handed to everyone, stemming from both the Sheriffs Act, The HCEOA code of practice and the National Standards for Taking control of goods.
As employers we also have a duty of care to our employees and contractors under the Health and Safety at work Act. This includes carrying out risk assessments and to only proceed where safe and proper to do so.
The MOJ has also given guidance
https://www.hceoa.org.uk/news/139-covid-19-and-enforcement-an-update
After consultations with our Authorised High Court Enforcement Officer, Our Health and Safety adviser and our board of directors we had no choice a few weeks ago but to take the decision to suspend all enforcement, evictions and removal actions until it is both safe and proper to continue.
We are still setting up new files applying for Writs, sending out Notices of enforcement, engaging with defendants by text and telephone and chasing broken arrangements.
At Quality Bailiffs we have invested heavily in technology with telephone texting systems to keep in touch with debtors remind them of payments, chase late payments etc. We also have video conferencing and other bespoke systems to help us manage our cases.
We have heard from clients that tell us there are some companies still doing various forms of enforcement including evictions we are not sure how they are doing this when the guidance from The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) suggests that the police do not support evictions during the crisis.
We would hope they have competed a written risk assessment, ensured that their staff and contractors have all completed Bio hazards training and they are all using the appropriate PPE.
PPE will include N95 masks, face shields, gloves, protective coveralls and authority to say their journey is necessary and essential.
What are we doing during the lockdown?
Training
Our company have a strategic partnership with IES Training https://iestraining.org.uk
Who have been providing on going CPD training online for our bailiffs to complete we have also held remote classroom sessions on Eviction Training, Health and Safety and Emergency First Aid.
Our equine experts are running a Horse welfare course and two more of the team are enrolling in Horse Care, Behaviour and Welfare Diploma Course with the Open College Network.
Ongoing Operations
Our Equine team are still actively working whilst practising social distancing on a case by case basis where the enforcement is key to the infrastructure of the country.
On a recent operation there were loose horses on power companies site that needed to be dealt with as they were causing a danger to life and the operation of the plant.
This was a difficult job to do with a large team whilst practising social distancing and avoiding confrontation with the travelling community that owned them.
The 8 horses were eventually rounded up and moved to a isolation Livery yard whilst they are treated for various illness including a bad case of strangles. Homes for all 8 have now been sourced and they will be released as soon as they are fit to travel again.