The HCEOA is campaigning for a safer working environment for all enforcement agents in line with the protections provided to retail staff and public sector workers.
2025 and 2026 have seen a growing number of threats and serious incidents, including the tragic death of a serving County Court bailiff who was attacked whilst he was at work.
Safer enforcement – a better way forward
Working with the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), we are calling for a series of measures to be introduced to better protect enforcement professionals and to prevent future tragedies.
The measures are designed to make enforcement safer for certificated enforcement agents, High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) and county court bailiffs, who are all appointed officers of the Courts, and all work closely with the public on a daily basis doing their job.
We are calling for a number of key changes to be made:
- Better training for police officers about the powers of enforcement agents and more use of Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which protects those working for the public sector.
- Ministerial support for a cross-sector protection of frontline staff and a national register of assaults and threats of assault against enforcement agents.
- Tougher penalties for people who attack and abuse enforcement professionals in their line of work, alongside other public sector workers as well as retail workers.
Human tragedies show the seriousness of the problem
In March 2026, County Court bailiff Jeff Blair was seriously injured whilst working as a court bailiff in Shildon, County Durham, and he sadly died later in hospital. The suspect was charged with murder.
In the last six months, further incidents have highlighted the risks enforcement professionals face every day. In Kent an enforcement agent suffered a life-changing incident when he was attacked by three men while collecting unpaid council tax, resulting in him losing sight in one eye. In Hull earlier this year, two men assaulted an enforcement agent executing a High Court writ and stole his body worn camera. They were given suspended sentences and community service.
The bailiff involved in the Hull incident had to take two weeks off work because of his injuries, including concussion. He later suffered anxiety, constant waking up at night, flashbacks and a “deep sense of vulnerability”.
Data shows number of threats and assaults is rising
A recent industry report by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) recorded 1,535 assaults or threats of assault on enforcement agents in just six months between January and June 2025 - equal to eight or more assaults every day. Of these, 184 assaults were physical, and some agents required hospital treatment.
These figures underscore the challenging nature of providing an essential public service which enforces over £1bn in unpaid debt each year. The money recovered through the enforcement of court warrants by court appointed enforcement agents goes towards funding vital local services, including schools, libraries, adult and children’s care and road repairs, as well as ensuring that individuals and companies can recover money owed to them through no fault of their own.
Next steps – everyone has a role to play
The HCEOA strongly believes that everyone involved in the sector – trade bodies, enforcement companies, the police, government, the Enforcement Conduct Board and the debt advice sector – has a key role to play in tackling this issue.
Just as we believe that all debtors should be treated fairly and respectfully, we believe that no one should go to work and be subject to abuse, threats or violence against them as they go about their job.
Michael Jackson, Vice-Chair of the HCEOA, said: “Our thoughts are with the families of those affected by these tragic events. Unfortunately, these events and the data collated by the ECB, show that this is a real live issue that cannot be ignored by Ministers, the police or society.
Being threatened or assaulted at work is not part of the job of an enforcement officer. Everyone should have the right to go out to work and feel safe, protected and supported, whether they are police officers, firefighters, working in retail or working in enforcement, and we’re calling on government and everyone involved in the sector to recognise that and act accordingly.”
Over the next few months, we will be building on our existing activity by engaging with bodies like the National Police Chiefs Council and the Enforcement Conduct Board’s Stakeholder Group as well as providing support to our members and the enforcement agents working for them.
We will be asking for their recognition of the seriousness and scale of the problem, ensuring they know what they can do to help protect enforcement professionals and that they will be proactive in playing their part to tackle this issue.
