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SilasX t1_jadplzi wrote

Reply to comment by ConstantReader76 in Bailiffs Are Dressing Up Like Police Officers to Scare Tenants Out of Their Homes by Mighty_L_LORT

Okay, sorry, I'm still lost here (USA), even after reading those links and the articles. From wiktionary, the UK meanings of bailiffs still show that they have law enforcement powers.

I don't understand what would make them more scary if perceived as "police officers" and what rights they could falsely dupe someone into believing, as police officers, that they would not be able to if correctly perceived as bailiffs.

Can you explain that part?

Edit: Like, from me, this reads as, "Drug Enforcement Agency agents impersonating FBI agents to confiscate drugs." Like, what? The agents have the same powers, and they'd be able to seize drugs as DEA already.

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Jakewb t1_jadsa7j wrote

Wiktionary probably isn’t the most useful source of information here.

Bailiffs in the UK do not have ‘law enforcement’ powers in any meaningful sense. Specifically, they do not have powers of arrest and their powers to enter homes are very, very constrained. Except in very limited circumstances, and as a last resort, they cannot use force to enter your home and you don’t have to let them in.

If they are presenting themselves as police officers then it is very much to their advantage to do so, as people are much more likely to let them into their home, and generally to do what they’re told.

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SilasX t1_jadt21i wrote

>Wiktionary probably isn’t the most useful source of information here.

Okay but neither was the original parent.

From their link:

>Bailiffs are allowed to force their way into your home to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty, but only as a last resort.

> If you do not let a bailiff in or agree to pay them:

> - they could take things from outside your home, for example your car > - you could end up owing even more money

That sounds like law enforcement powers.

It sounds like the difference is:

> If they are presenting themselves as police officers then it is very much to their advantage to do so, as people are much more likely to let them into their home, and generally to do what they’re told.

Which would have been nice to be told in the original comment so I couldn't figure out what subtlety distinguishes bailiffs from police officers.

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