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Certificated Enforcement Agent Register

Search for a Certificated Enforcement Agent

Enforcement Agent and Bailiff Fraud

Please stay vigilant against fraudsters posing as enforcement agents and bailiffs, for more information please visit;

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-bailiff-and-enforcement-officer-scam

The Certificated Enforcement Agent (Bailiff) Register

This register holds details of all enforcement agents in England and Wales who hold a certificate allowing them to enforce debts and fines using the Taking Control of Goods procedure.

Certificates to use the Taking Control of Goods procedure are issued by judges in the County Court. Individuals must re-apply for a certificate every two years.

You can search this register to see if an individual claiming to be an enforcement agent with authority to use the Taking Control of Goods procedure has a valid certificate from a court.

To search the register, enter the enforcement agent’s name or employer in the box below and click find.

Complaints about certificated enforcement agents

The law says that only "fit and proper" individuals should hold these certificates. If you are aware of any serious concerns about a certificated enforcement agent, you can complain to the court that issued his or her certificate. You can use the register above to find out which court you should alert to these issues.

More information about how to complain about a certificated enforcement agent can be found here:

Bailiff powers when they visit your home: How to complain about a bailiff - GOV.UK

More information about certificated enforcement agent’s powers and the different types of bailiffs can be found here:

Bailiff powers when they visit your home: What you can do when a bailiff visits - GOV.UK

Register of people who have applied for a certificate

A separate register is held of individuals who have applied to the court to obtain a new or renewed certificate. This register contains the applicant’s name and employer, the name of the court where the application will be heard and the date of the hearing. If you have concerns about a person who is applying for a new or a renewed certificate, you can send your concerns to the relevant court before the hearing date, for the judge to consider as part of the application.

To check the register of people who have applied for certificates click here.

Approved Enforcement Agencies

An Approved Enforcement Agency (AEA) is a person or body approved by the Lord Chancellor, to execute warrants of arrest and control issued by the magistrates’ court in England and Wales for non-payment of criminal financial penalties or breaches of a community penalty order.

The contracts for Approved Enforcement Agency Services have been awarded to:

  1. Compliant Data-Led Engagements & Resolutions (CDER) Group for Primary Services in HMCTS Regions - London, South East and the Midlands and Secondary Services in North East, North West, South West and Wales
  2. Marston Holdings for Primary Services in HMCTS Regions - North East, North West and the South West and Secondary Services in London, South East and the Midlands
  3. Jacobs Enforcement for Primary Services in HMCTS Region - Wales