Bailiffs and enforcement officers are authorised to remove and sell a person's possessions in order to pay money owed to a person or organisation. In some cases they may also have authority to conduct evictions and arrest people.

Bailiffs and enforcement officers have differing roles, depending on the person or organisation on whose behalf they are working. Leaflet EX345 About Bailiffs and Enforcement Officers has detailed information on their responsibilities, how they work, and how to make a complaint about them.

If you have a county court judgment which you wish to enforce, please read the page on Enforcing Judgment.

If a certificated bailiff attends your home, you can ask to see their certificate, and ask for their name, company name, a telephone contact number and a list of fees. If you do not pay the money you owe, substantial bailiffs' fees and charges may be added to the original amount owed.

Directory of High Court Enforcement Officers

The Directory of High Court Enforcement Officers contains names of enforcement officers in England and Wales who have been authorised to execute High Court writs under the provisions contained in Section 99 and Schedule 7 of the Courts Act 2003.

For more information about High Court Enforcement, including the complaints procedure, visit the High Court Enforcement Officers Association website.

The Directory of High Court Enforcement Officers (PDF 0.33Mb)

Certificated Bailiff Register

The Certificated Bailiff Register allows you to find out which county court issued a certificated bailiff's latest certificate.

To look for the details of a bailiff's certificate, type the bailiff's surname into the search box on the Register page, and click 'Find'. The search will show you all bailiffs whose surname matches exactly what you have typed. Alternatively, if you leave the search box blank and click 'Find', you can browse the whole list.

If you have searched the Register but are unable to find the certificated bailiff that you are looking for, please contact the County Court Bulk Centre on 0845 4085302 between 10.00am and 4 pm. CCBC Northampton will search the Register for you and will be able to advise you of the county court that issued the bailiff's latest certificate. They are unable to advise you on any other matters.

National Standards for Enforcement Agents

These revised standards are intended for use by all enforcement agents, public and private, the enforcement agencies that employ them and the major creditors who use their services. In order to improve the public's perception of the profession, enforcement agents and those who employ them, or use their services, must maintain high standards of business ethics and practice.

This national guidance does not replace local agreements, existing agency codes of practice or legislation; rather it sets out what the Ministry of Justice and those in the industry regard as minimum standards and contributes to the work on transforming bailiff action.

We recognise this document is not legally binding, but offer it as a helpful tool for the industry and for creditors which, it is hoped, will inform their own arrangements.

National Standards for Enforcement Agents (PDF 0.12mb)