High Court Enforcement Officer & Bailiffs

The Sheriffs are Coming, 2020/2021 version, is the new fly-on-the-wall documentary following the work of High Court Enforcement Officer & Bailiffs , who enforce Writs that are issued in the High Courts of England and Wales. This features Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs) that work on behalf of Frank G Whitworth, High Court Enforcement and Quality Bailiffs. As the new team of ‘Sheriffs’, we have been busy filming Series 9 of the show which started in 2019 and was completed by 2021. The first two episodes were shown in Autumn 2020 and the full new series of 10 episodes began on May 31st 2021.

High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) are the only people that can Enforce Writs from the High Court, including Writs of Control. These HCEOs are very experienced and professionally qualified in their field and are authorised to Enforce Judgements from the High Court and any County Court Judgements above £600.00. Currently, there are roughly 47 active HCEOs in England and Wales.

HCEOs sit between members of the public and the Certificated Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs) that they employ or authorise to Enforce Writs in their name. The HCEO is required to ensure that the conduct of the Writ, throughout the Enforcement process, adheres to current legislation and the High Court Enforcement Officers Associations (HCEOA) guidelines.

HCEOs delegate their powers to the Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs) who can then enforce Writs under the authority of the HCEO.

High Court Enforcement Officer & Bailiffs

[High Court Enforcement Officer]

The Sheriff’s (High Court Enforcement Officers) work can be varied; they enforce Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO’s) and the following types of Writ:

• Writs of Control

Claimants who have obtained a Money Judgement in the County Court may Transfer the Judgement to the High Court for Enforcement, this then becomes a Writ of Control (Writ of Fieri Facias). HCEOs are commanded by the High Court to Take Control of the Goods and chattels of the Defendant should they not be willing to make full payment.

• Writs of Possession

Claimants who have obtained a Possession Order in the County Court may, with the permission of the Court, have the Order transferred to the High Court. The Order then becomes a Writ of Possession. High Court Enforcement Officers are commanded to take Possession of said property on behalf of the claimant – using the High Court is a much quicker option for Landlords to regain Possession of their property as a pose to waiting for the County Court Bailiffs.

• Writs of Restitution

Where Sheriffs (HCEO’s) have successfully taken Possession of Land or Property and the occupants having previously been evicted have returned to re-occupy the site – the Possession Writ can be Enforced again.

• Writ of Delivery

Where Sheriffs (HCEO’s) are commanded by the High Court to attempt to recover specific items belonging to the Claimant or alternatively recover money to a pre-assessed value. These items could be anything, though normally is High-Value Vehicles, Farm Machinery and Large Plant Equipment.

• Writs of Assistance

This type of Writ gives extra power to the Sheriffs (HCEO’s) to Enforce an existing Writ; for example, to force entry where the Law does not usually permit this power to be used without an Order from the Court.

• Writ of Venditioni Exponas

Where Sheriffs (HCEO’s) are instructed to sell the goods that they are holding at whatever price can be achieved.

• Writ of Ne Exeat Regno

Where Sheriffs (HCEO’s) are sent to arrest a Defendant, who is fleeing the Jurisdiction.

• Ecclesiastical Writ

Where Sheriffs (HCEO’s) are working on behalf of a Bishop and the Judgement is against a property belonging to the Church of England.