Bailiffs use of CCTV and new regulations

[bluebottle]

Re: Bailiffs use of CCTV and new regulations

"There are some very interesting times ahead because; if bailiffs are forced to stop using ANPR vehicles to enforce parking tickets they will have to visit the debtors address instead. This MAY mean that they act in the correct manner."

And seize any motor that is parked on or adjacent to a debtor's property after April 2014, safe in the knowledge that an innocent would have to jump through hoops and effectively pay the fees and debt to reclaim their property, if they cannot afford it then the property is forfeit and the bailiff is a winner.

The present government has to stay in office long enough to see the provision you refer to come into force, BB. And to be honest, I cannot see this current shower of s***s lasting much beyond the end of January or beginning of February next year. People are talking about what is going wrong EVERYWHERE and they want change, starting with changes in how we are governed and getting rid of legislation that rewards the corrupt and the greedy and allows the police and government to bully, criminalise and demonise the people.

[bluebottle]

Re: Bailiffs use of CCTV and new regulations

I would not for one moment want to criticise you suffice to say "wake up and smell the roses" !!!

These frankly appalling "roadside operations" have been a frequent occurance for as long as I can remember and almost certainly for the past 8 years or so.

I made a Formal Complaint to Westminster Council approx 6 years ago on behalf of a lovely man who owned a black Hackney cab. He was forced to stop by "Philips" (now called Collectica) at around 11pm. The police ordered him to stop and then "introduced" him to the bailiffs. They demanded about £1,000. He could not pay and the police ordered his passengers out and the taxi was removed to the pound. He collected the taxi later that morning and told me that when he spoke with the pound they stated that on average; about 40 cars are taken during these "roadside operations".

I still have all the correspondence from Westminster and used that as a Formal Complaint to the ICO. The taxi owner pursued a great claim using the Hackney Carriage lawyers.

FOI requests were made to various police forces and the responses have mainly been redacted but the bottom line (so to speak) is that the "pay off" to the police force from Westminster is the payment to the police force of handsome "overtime" agreements.

I have continued whenever time permits to write complaints to as many government departments about the use of ANPR to enforce unpaid PCN's and this includes the Ministry of Justice, the Secretary of State, and DCLG.

I am DELIGHTED that finally Eric Pickles and the Department for Transport are looking at the use of CCTV and from the "internal briefing" released on 27th September it is CONFIRMED that both Cabinet Members are seeking to release a Consultation on the use of CCTV (which they state has been used as a "cash cow") and that they are looking to introduce legislation to BAN the use of CCTV as a method to detect whether a motorist has committed a traffic contravention.

Most significant is that from the "Briefing" they are also looking at the way ANPR is used by bailiffs !!!

My letters may have played a small part only in getting this subject considered but it would seem that changes are being considered following responses in June to the Transport Select Committee on the use of CCTV.

I can assure you that I will NOT give up on this subject.

Finally, both the DCLG and DfT have been VERY surprised to hear that these dreadful "police roadside operations" are an everyday occurence !!!

There are some very interesting times ahead because; if bailiffs are forced to stop using ANPR vehicles to enforce parking tickets they will have to visit the debtors address instead. This MAY mean that they act in the correct manner.

All due credit to you and that your hard work has paid off, Milo. I am not happy about the changes supposedly coming into force in April 2014 - if this government stays in office long enough to see it come into force, that is. I have someone from HMCTS ringing me tomorrow afternoon about the antics of bailiffs collecting unpaid magistrates court fines. Taking account of what Collectica and Marstons have been up to lately, it should make an interesting discussion.