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Domestic Violence

Volume 505: debated on Tuesday 2 February 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he made of the effectiveness of the use by bailiffs of powers under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; and if he will make a statement. (314391)

No recent assessment has been undertaken. However in accordance with their contractual obligations, bailiffs are under a duty to check with the court before forcing entry and to assess each incident.

The contracts Her Majesty’s Courts Service has with private bailiff companies also require these companies to report monthly on the use of search and forced entry powers to HMCS. Under the previous AEO contracts which ran from 1 April 2006 until 30 November 2009 there were only two occasions of forced entry used by authorised enforcement agents.