ECB report highlights the scale of the enforcement industry

The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) has published its first Insight Report, which presents new data on enforcement (bailiff) industry practices, drawing on evidence from its complaints handling service and oversight work.

The data showed that the enforcement industry is handling over 7 million cases a year, impacting millions of people, with the industry sector collecting over £1 billion a year, the majority of which is money owed to public bodies from unpaid parking and traffic fines and council tax arrears. Goods – primarily vehicles – were taken away by Enforcement Agents (bailiffs) in over 2,600 cases in the six-month reporting period.

Whilst the great majority of enforcement action complies with the ECB’s Standards for fair enforcement, the report identifies some concerning behaviour, including: mishandled complaints, threatening behaviour, failing to support vulnerable people, and threatening to remove exempt goods. It also found clamping vehicles used by disabled people. and overcharging enforcement fees on members of the public.

In six months, there wereten  Enforcement Agents dismissed by their companies for misconduct – only two had their certificates revoked by the court. Most of the dismissed agents are therefore able to continue working.

In its first nine months, the ECB’s complaints service received over 500 complaints. Demand is growing rapidly, and the ECB expects to handle several thousand complaints in 2026. The ECB has upheld half of the complaints that it has investigated.

The report comes as the Government faces growing calls from MPs and charities to tighten up the regulation of the industry. In June 2025, the Ministry of Justice committed to legislating to give the ECB legal powers and published a consultation seeking views on how to do this. The Government is yet to commit to a timetable.

Chris Nichols, CEO of the Enforcement Conduct Board, said “The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) is here to ensure that everyone facing enforcement action is treated fairly.. Our report reveals the enormous scale of enforcement activity across England and Wales and the significant role it plays in supporting public finances. Encouragingly, most enforcement firms and agents are following the rules that we set and carrying out their work responsibly.

“However, we have also uncovered some deeply concerning examples of firms and agents behaving aggressively, overstating powers, failing to consider health issues, and overcharging members of the public. These actions often impact vulnerable people in their own homes. The ECB is determined to stamp out harmful enforcement practices. We are handling a growing number of complaints and will soon introduce tougher standards to ensure vulnerable people are treated properly.

“Government must act too. Last year, it pledged to give the ECB new legal powers. Eight months have passed since its consultation, yet no legislation has been introduced. Thousands of people are currently experiencing enforcement by companies who have refused to sign up to our standards and are subject to no independent oversight.  We urge the Government to act bring forward legislation this Spring and protect everyone subject to enforcement.”

Responding to the ECB Insight Report, CIVEA CEO, Russell Hamblin-Boone said “We are encouraged how our members and the ECB have been able to provide the most robust evidence ever gathered to shine a forensic light on the civil enforcement sector.

“In 2019 we were among the first to call for an independent body to lift the bonnet on our industry and investigate the true extent of any problems. We are encouraged that the vast majority of the industry is meeting high standards and treating people fairly according to the rules.

“The report gives anecdotal evidence of the most extreme examples of harmful conduct, which is concerning. But it is helpful to spot areas that need our attention, as well as confirming that in most cases (96%) the industry has embraced the new Standards and continues to act responsibly and efficiently.

“Among the most worrying data in the report is that there were four times the number of assaults against enforcement agents than complaints. There are eight assaults or threats of assault against enforcement agents every day. In an independent poll, 66% of the public agree there should be stronger legal penalties for those who are violent towards enforcement agents. We are calling for the Government to protect enforcement agents by ensuring that the police increase their support for prosecution of offenders and there is a consistent method for logging assaults on a central database.

“We are grateful to the ECB for helping us to identify bad practice. It helps us to drive up standards and drive out those who are not fit and proper to undertake the highly specialist and sensitive work of civil enforcement.”