My brother said the police will arrest him for not paying an instalment of a court fine when unable to pay the bailiff, who said the police always arrive with the bailiffs. Is this true?

Police cannot make an arrest for non-payment of a court fine.

There is no legislation for police to make arrests for not paying a court fine.

The police will always tell you they are only there to prevent a breach of the peace.

The police rarely admit their statutory duty is actually crime prevention and the apprehension of suspects, because the police have an institutional policy which puts bailiffs in a class above the law - even when it is obvious to the police that bailiff crime is being committed.

Police do not arrive with bailiffs because it is a waste of police resources and taxpayer expense.

Bailiffs like to think they can bring the police with them whenever it suits.

Bailiffs call police on 999 when they are either caught committing a crime, e/g stealing property or money, the bailiff getting into a fight, or the bailiff or his vehicle are at imminent risk.

Police only attend when there is a crime being committed and the suspect is still present, or there is an imminent danger to someone.

If a police officer makes an arrest or threatens to arrest someone to achieve a gain or a benefit for himself or another, the officer commits an offence.^[1]

The arrested person can also sue for damages, which is usually an hourly rate for being detained, plus any special damages. Such claims usually end by negotiating with the police force solicitors to settle the claim without going to court, because bringing police officers into court for cross-examination in open court exposes potential police corruption to the press gallery.

^{[1] Section 26 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

[2] See Also: Police Conduct in the presence of bailiffs}