Risk Assessment turns Dangerous

Just a routine risk assessment

When the sun comes out the fly grazing horses come out. Spring and summer sees a rise in fly-grazing horses across the country.

The first stage in removing the animals is to conduct a risk assessment. It is usually a straightforward routine task.

But this time events took a very dangerous turn.

Early evening visit

Following instructions from a client a member of Quality Bailiffs Equine Division along with a Horse expert from The Horse Bailiffs went out early evening to look at some land in the Midlands to conduct a risk assessment and gather details to form an operational plan for possible removal of horses fly-grazing on land owned by the client.

Whilst on our client’s land the team were approached by a couple of people from the travelling community who asked them what they were doing. The team were dressed down so as not to draw attention to themselves. They simply said they were contractors checking the land on behalf of the landowner.

The travellers disputed that our client owned the land and told the team to leave immediately. The team complied and returned to their van having gathered the information they required. The team drove away from the site.

Turns into a car chase

Within minutes of driving off in their van they were followed by two large 4x4 vehicles.

After following the team for a few miles one of the vehicles tried to ram the van off the road. The other vehicle tried some risky manoeuvres to try to block the team in.

The team narrowly managed to avoid a collision and had to flee the scene at speed for their own safety.

They were then pursued all the way through country lanes to the M1. Once at the M1 the two chasing vehicles continued their pursuit down the motorway at speed trying to come along side the van.

Shots fired

There was a loud bang, as the van was shot at from one of the 4x4 vehicles. The shot hit the side of the van just behind the driver.

The pursuit continued whilst the team were speaking to the Police by telephone for help.

Another shot rang out and this time it hit the rear window of the van taking it out completely and showering the team in glass.

The team kept driving on into the next county with the 2 vehicles in hot pursuit.

A few miles into the next county one 4x4 pulled off into a service station and then the second 4x4 turned off at the next junction.

The team were very shaken but unhurt, and the police are now dealing with the incident.

All in a days work

All this for walking around a field, but it only goes to show that even doing low risk jobs can be highly dangerous.

The registration numbers and descriptions have been passed to the police. We hope these people are convicted and took off the streets.

Quality Bailiffs Equine Division often in conjunction with The Horse Bailiffs handle some very difficult and sometimes dangerous cases. We have a 100% success rate.

Should you need our help then do not hesitate to contact us on 0208 090 2439.

Most cases can be done without the need for a writ via our High Court Enforcement Division and are completed under the Control of Horses Act 2015.

Read more information about our fly grazing horse removal service.

About the author

This article was written by Andrew Coates, Authorised High Court Enforcement Officer and full member of The High Court Enforcement Officers Association, and current CEO of Quality Bailiffs.

Andy has a Level 4 diploma in High Court Enforcement, and over twenty five years of experience in the bailiff and investigation industry. He is a former governing council member of both CIVEA and ABI.

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