The Sheriffs Are Coming

BBC 1 series featuring Quality Bailiffs High Court Enforcement Certificated Enforcement Agents

The show

The High Court enforcement team here at Quality Bailiffs and our sister company Frank G Whitworth are featured on BBC 1 award winning show The Sheriffs are Coming.

This Reality TV show lets viewers see a glimpse into the role of the High Court Enforcement Officers at Quality Bailiffs and their bailiffs. These types of shows are very popular. The Sheriffs are Coming story lines are centred on how the High Court Enforcement Officers can help members of the public enforce their rights.

Contrary to popular belief as Officers of the court a High Court Enforcement Officer is not an agent of the claimant or the defendant, but that of a court representative, and cannot side with one side or the other. They simply carry out a process in law to attempt to take control of the goods of a defendant to cover a judgment and its costs, or collect a payment.

Good TV

Whilst High Court Enforcement officers are successful on the whole, it is important to note that not every case ends in the result the claimant would want. Once the judgment is granted most claimants think the battle is won. It is then to most claimant’s horror getting the judgment is no guarantee of getting paid.

The TV programs generally do not show all the doors knocked where the defendant has gone away, become insolvent, refuses to answer the door. These events happen every day but make boring TV, so this does distort people’s expectations when instructing any High Court Enforcement Officer.

The varied role of the Sheriffs

The role of the bailiffs (Sheriffs) in the series is very varied and does not just include enforcing money judgments. The team are shown in various episodes doing different operations including our specialist team working for The Horse Bailiffs removing horses, the team taking ;possession of commercial premises, and the eviction of violent travellers from land.

Of course, the bread and butter work of Quality Bailiffs is dealing with the rogue traders that members of the public have obtained judgment against. This includes dodgy car dealers, cowboy builders and roofers and other poor tradesmen. The team often find themselves chasing the judgments for small business where they have outstanding invoices. Where people have been unfairly dismissed and had a tribunal award the team often enforce against the companies that refuse to pay them their awards.

The Eviction Ban

During the pandemic, the eviction ban and its restrictions has hit lots of landlords who have had to utilise the power of the court to get a judgment and issue writs of control to the team to collect their rent.

As the eviction ban starts to end the landlords are frustrated with further delays from the County Courts overworked and under-funded bailiff service. We are hearing about possible bailiff waiting lists of 9 months. Landlords are looking for a quicker solution, so they are utilising the Quality Bailiffs High Court eviction service.

Sheriff v Bailiff v High Court Enforcement Officer

We are often asked how the system works and what the main differences are. The team, on the TV are all Certificated Enforcement Agents (formally known as Bailiffs). The bailiffs do the work on the ground and make the decisions on the doorstep. They are totally responsible for their actions in law on the case. There are around 2500 bailiffs in England and Wales.

The bailiffs however must be supervised by a High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) (formally known as a Sheriff or Sheriffs Officer). There are around 50 High Court Enforcement Officers in England and Wales and a bailiff enforcing a writ must work under one by law. At Quality Bailiffs we are fortunate to have 3 High Court Enforcement Officers within the company.

Further details about the work differences and procedures can be viewed from our High Court Enforcement Officer how to use article.