The bailiff said he can arrest you.


Bailiffs and private companies have no power to arrest suspects, or debtors, let alone detain and transport prisoners.

It is the practice of some bailiffs to use police-like terminology when confronting debtors.

If a bailiff gets into a fight with a debtor, the bailiff commits a breach of the peace.[1][2]

A power to use force does not include power to use force against people,[3] and anyone being attacked may use reasonable force for purposes of self-defence.[4]

If a bailiff puts a document through your door saying he can arrest you, then you do not need to respond to it. It is a bailiff trying to trace a missing debtor.

The document may be handed to police by reporting an offence online through your local police force website.



[1] Justices of the Peace Act 1361
[2] Regina v Howell [1982] 1 QB 416, [1982] QB 416, [1981] 73 Crim App R 31
[3] Paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[4] Section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008