Submitted by Mighty_L_LORT t3_11dtkce in nottheonion
Jakewb t1_jadsa7j wrote
Reply to comment by SilasX in Bailiffs Are Dressing Up Like Police Officers to Scare Tenants Out of Their Homes by Mighty_L_LORT
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.
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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