Enforcement Agents & High Court Enforcement Officers (formerly known as bailiffs)

Instructing an enforcement agent (still commonly referred to as a bailiff) is one method of civil debt enforcement. Different types of enforcement agents are used to collect different kinds of unpaid debt on behalf of creditors (including local authorities, government departments and private individuals). Some enforcement agents are officers of the court, others are self-employed, some are employees of a private debt collection company.

In February 2012, the government made a commitment to deliver protection against ‘rogue bailiffs’ who use ‘aggressive methods’ whilst ensuring debts could still be collected effectively. It delivered this commitment through the implementation of part 3 of, and schedule 12 to, the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (TCEA 2007) together with the implementation of three sets of underpinning regulations on 6 April 2014.

From 25 November 2018 to 17 February 2019, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) held a call for evidence (PDF) to help inform its second post implementation review of the effectiveness of the 2014 reforms. Separately, on 14 December 2018, the Justice Select Committee began its own inquiry into how enforcement agents operate and the fees they charge. It published its report, Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt, on 11 April 2019. The Committee concluded that enforcement was “under -regulated compared to other sectors” and recommended the creation of an independent regulator, which should be able to “stop unfit enforcement agents and companies from practising” and also “work to change culture and raise standards”.

The previous government published its response to both the MoJ call for evidence and the Justice Committee’s report on 13 December 2022. It said it would introduce new measures to tighten the regulation of bailiffs. In October 2023, the government consulted on amending the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.

The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), an independent oversight body for enforcement work in England and Wales, became fully operational in 2025. It was set up with agreement between the enforcement industry and leading debt advice charities in November 2022. The ECB sets standards for accredited firms and agents, oversees their activities to ensure the standards are met, and offers a second-tier complaints service for people who feel they have been treated unfairly by an enforcement firm or agent. Most bailiff firms (96%) have signed up to the ECB’s voluntary accreditation scheme.

On 9 June 2025, the government announced its plan to ‘overhaul’ the way the enforcement sector operates in England and Wales. It said it would:

• consult on plans for greater regulation of bailiff firms, including oversight from an independent body accountable to Parliament
• encourage earlier and cheaper settlement of debt, reducing the number of “doorstep visits” and avoiding the accumulation of enforcement fees
• increase fees bailiff firms can collect for the first time since 2014 to ensure a sustainable sector while better supporting people in debt
• increase the threshold where bailiff firms can charge an additional fee to reduce the number of people in debt paying this additional fee

In outlining its position, the government said it wants to see “an enforcement sector that supports those enforcing judgments secured through court proceedings, but one that is also fair to those who are facing enforcement action. If people are treated fairly, enforcement will be more effective”.

On the same day (9 June 2025) the MoJ launched a consultation on the “Regulation of the debt enforcement sector” in England and Wales. It sought views on proposals to introduce an independent statutory regulator.

Referring to independent research, Sarah Sackman, Minister of State (MoJ), said “a significant number of people are not currently being treated fairly by enforcement agents”. On the specific issue of body-worn cameras, she said that “enforcement agents breached government standards in approximately 6% of cases – affecting an estimated 30,000 individuals each year. That is simply not good enough”. She said the government believes it is necessary to legislate to ensure that all enforcement agents are regulated to the same standards, overseen by the same independent body.

The consultation closed on 21 July 2025. The government confirmed that responses will inform legislation to be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.

This briefing is in two parts. First, it describes the different types of enforcement agents operating in England and Wales and summarises their current regulation. It then considers the government’s recent proposals for reform. Second, it answers some commonly asked questions about the collection of debts by enforcement agents.