Alan J. Smith, Chair of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA), highlights the rising demand for High Court enforcement, backed by new data released by the industry and the Registry Trust. In the current economic climate, the need to ensure fair and effective enforcement is essential. It is a vital tool for recovering debts, supporting economic growth and upholding the rule of law.
This month, we’ve seen the publication of two new datasets that show how the volume of High Court enforcement activity is continuing to increase, with growth in activity mainly driven by a growth in commercial judgments against a backdrop of a slight decline in consumer judgments.
The Association has published its own annual figures, based on data returns our members supply annually to the Ministry of Justice, and The Registry Trust has published its latest set of quarterly figures.
Increased recoveries reflect the vital role of enforcement
A comparison of the Association data from 2023 and 2024 shows a 5% increase in new writs received, illustrating how important High Court enforcement continues to be as an essential service for businesses and individuals to help them recover unpaid debts.
Alongside that 5% increase in new writs received, it’s worth highlighting that the number of writs where payment was obtained in full increased by 7.5% and the total sum of money collected increased by almost 10%.
The total amount collected increased by £10.5 million, rising from £111.2 million in 2023 to £121.7 million in 2024. The pattern is one of improved recovery rates and more cases being enforced using High Court enforcement.
Collectively, over the last three years, HCEOA members have received 443,231 writs, successfully collecting approximately £340 million in outstanding judgment debt on behalf of businesses and individuals.
These figures reflect not only the operational capacity of enforcement agents but also the critical role they play in securing financial justice for creditors nationwide. Without this effective enforcement, companies and individuals would struggle to recover owed money and could potentially become the debtors of tomorrow.
Every year, our members are required to provide the Ministry of Justice with details of the writs they have enforced, detailing the number of successful and unsuccessful cases. This includes data on part-paid and fully paid cases, the total amount collected, and the total debt instructed for collection.
The Association receives an annual summary extract of this data from the Ministry of Justice, offering a high-level view of our members’ performance. This consistent reporting provides transparency and helps track enforcement effectiveness across the country.
Rising commercial pressures and evolving enforcement needs
The latest data from the Registry Trust for Q1 2025 paints a mixed picture. While overall judgment volumes remain high, the figures reflect shifting patterns in debt recovery, influenced by persistent economic pressures and sectoral changes.
In Q1 2025, a total of 282,417 new judgments were registered, an increase of 4% from the previous quarter and 0.9% compared to Q1 2024. While overall volumes remain high, the number of consumer judgments fell to 231,243, representing a 2.4% decline from the previous quarter and a 4.4% decrease compared to Q1 2024.
Meanwhile, commercial judgments continue to rise sharply. Across 2024, 173,025 new commercial judgments were recorded, a 35.5% increase year-on-year. In Q1 alone, 51,174 were registered, representing a striking 46.4% rise from the previous quarter and 34.6% from Q1 2024. This surge reflects growing financial stress within the business sector.
These diverging trends suggest that businesses are increasingly turning to the courts to resolve unpaid debts. The increase in commercial enforcement activity reinforces the growing reliance on High Court enforcement as a practical solution.
With the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty, these figures suggest a continued rise in commercial enforcement activity, even as consumer debt actions soften. This shift highlights the importance of a responsive and balanced enforcement framework that can adapt to changing creditor and debtor needs.
As we look further into 2025, the enforcement profession remains cautiously optimistic. Promoting a supportive and adaptable enforcement environment is important for tackling the issues at hand. Ensuring that both creditors and debtors have their needs met is essential for creating a fair and effective system that can navigate these challenging times.
