The enforcement profession fights back

By LBV

26 May 2010

No doubt many will be aware of the recent sensationalized media stories about bailiffs portrayed in the News of the World and on the BBC.

Both articles were inaccurate, misleading and distorted, written to give a one-sided, biased picture. In both incidences, factual statements with ample evidence were made by the profession to the journalists, who unfairly but typically, chose not to use them, leaving the general public with an imprecise and untrue version of events.

The recent News of the World article has been referred to the Press Complaints Commission by the Enforcement Agency concerned.

The enforcement profession has had enough and the Enforcement Services Association (ESA), the Association of Civil Enforcement Agents (ACEA) and the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) have pledged to stand together to fight back.

We have had enough of unfair, one-sided and highly biased articles that detract from the good work our enforcement officers do.

The profession collects millions of pounds each year to help sustain the British Economy. We are responsible for recovering in excess of £400 million in unpaid council tax each year (equivalent to the annual salary of 20,000 nurses) which would be otherwise added to the council tax bills of those that do pay.

We recover £170 million of unpaid business rates, that would, uncollected become a burden on businesses that do pay.

We are responsible for collecting monies on behalf of small businesses, helping to ensure that they have regular cashflow, enforcing unpaid employment tribunal awards on behalf of wronged employees.

We collect £50 million of unpaid child maintenance from non-resident parents, and unpaid criminal fines which make them a realistic alternative to much more expensive custodial sentences.

We are responsible for keeping the buses in London moving by enforcing unpaid bus lane contraventions and keeping traffic flowing by enforcing unpaid congestion charges and other road traffic debt.

Misleading, distorted and untrue tabloid stories unfairly undermine public confidence in a vital public service, which is why the profession is fighting back.

All too often, the story is made to fit the cliché rather than the facts, and the perpetuation of that cliché does a disservice to debtors and creditors as much as it does to the enforcement profession.

The profession intends to set up an expert working group to develop a media policy and protocol to dispel untrue and misleading media reports and refer false and inaccurate reporting to the Press Complaints Commission.

This group will also be tasked with attempting to positively promote the profession and the difficult job it carries out.

Julie Green-Jones, chairman, Rossendales.
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Double-digit growth sees Inspired near £100m revenues Mark Dickinson Inspired Plc

Double-digit growth sees Inspired near £100m revenues

26 Mar 2024

2

Five-fold growth for Chorley safety products firm Hispec

Five-fold growth for Chorley safety products firm

26 Mar 2024

3

How the UK’s strategy to reduce net migration affects care work AdobeStock_89838327 (1).jpeg.jpg

How the UK’s strategy to reduce net migration affects care work

28 Mar 2024

4

Dealmakers: Star Tissue takes a leading roll Khalid Saifullah

Dealmakers: Star Tissue takes a leading roll

28 Mar 2024

5

Tips for surviving Lancashire's pothole plague

Tips for surviving Lancashire's pothole plague

28 Mar 2024

Hwc 2024 Email Signature 980x120
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Reach 50,000 members of the Lancashire business community

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Company profile
Social reach
Magazine coverage
Sign-up
Events
Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos
EVENT LISTING BNI Kudos.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
28 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos

Prairie Sports Village, Windemere Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2FU

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle
EVENT LISTING BNI Castle.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
28 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle

Vale of Lune RUFC, Powder House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 2TT

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch
EVENT LISTING SIZING Brunch .png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Brunch

Samlesbury Preston Hotel, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0UL

09:30 - 11:00

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity
EVENT LISTING BNI Infinity.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Mar 2024

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity

Hampton by Hilton, 2 Frontier Ave, Blackburn, BB1 3AL

06:30 - 08:30

Business Networking in Chorley - BNI Endeavour
EVENT LISTING SIZING Endeavour.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Chorley - BNI Endeavour

Oak Royal, Bury Lane, Chorley, PR6 8SW

06:30 - 08:30

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Vista
EVENT LISTING SIZING Vista.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Vista

Hampton by Hilton, 2 Frontier Ave, Blackburn, BB1 3AL

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Diamond
EVENT LISTING BNI Diamond.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Preston - BNI Diamond

The Marriot Hotel, Garstang Road, Broughton, PR3 5JB

07:15 - 09:00

Business Networking in Lancaster - Eden Business Network
EVENT LISTING Eden Business Network.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - Eden Business Network

The Borough, 3 Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

18:30 - 20:30

Business Networking in Accrington - BNI Zeus
EVENT LISTING SIZING Zeus.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Accrington - BNI Zeus

The Mill House, Corn Mill Yard, Accrington, BB5 5HX

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle
EVENT LISTING BNI Castle.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
04 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Lancaster - BNI Castle

Vale of Lune RUFC, Powder House Lane, Lancaster, LA1 2TT

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos
EVENT LISTING BNI Kudos.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
04 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Burnley - BNI Kudos

Prairie Sports Village, Windemere Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2FU

06:45 - 08:30

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity
EVENT LISTING BNI Infinity.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
05 Apr 2024

Business Networking in Blackburn - BNI Infinity

Hampton by Hilton, 2 Frontier Ave, Blackburn, BB1 3AL

06:30 - 08:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv115 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin