INDEPENDENT BAILIFF REGULATOR

Early day motion 1632, tabled 13 September 2018 by Sandy Martin (Labour). Signed by 15 members.

That this House is shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Jerome Rogers, a young bicycle courier who, after being aggressively pursued by bailiffs, felt driven to take his own life; notes the evidence from Citizens Advice of poor treatment at the hands of bailiffs across the UK; considers that the 24 per cent increase in the number of bailiff issues since reforms to the bailiff industry introduced in 2014 demonstrates that these reforms have not worked; further notes reports of enforcement agents acting inappropriately towards Citizens Advice clients, refusing offers of payments, entering homes when they ought not to and charging disproportionate or inappropriate fees; recognises that people who are visited by bailiffs are disproportionately likely to be vulnerable, with half living in social housing, one in three having a long term health condition or disability and more than a quarter being single parents with dependent children; and calls on the Government to institute fundamental reform of the sector through the introduction of an independent bailiff regulator and an independent complaints process.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Green 1, Independent 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.