§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take the necessary action to make it a criminal offence for convicted criminals(a) to own, (b) to be directors of, (c) to be employed by or (d) to seek employment by a business operating as bailiffs.
Mr. John M. TaylorI have been asked to reply.
The Government has no plans to introduce a series of such offences. The Lord Chancellor's Department requires high standards of those who are recruited as county court bailiffs. Applicants are required to give information about previous convictions. The Department's policy is not to recruit or retain as a baliff any person with a criminal conviction which could conflict with his or her role as officer of the court. Applicants for certification under the distress for rent rules are required to disclose any convictions. The circuit judge dealing with the application would take this into account when considering whet her to grant a certificate.