UK Government enlists Reveal body cameras to curb aggressive bailiffs

The Government is taking decisive action and making body-worn cameras mandatory to ensure the debt is collected in a fair and safe manner – with those who fail to do so held to account.

Reveal body cameras are being used by several private and public enforcement agents across the country to protect both the public and the officer. Justice Minister Paul Maynard explained that "the use of intimidation and aggression by some bailiffs is utterly unacceptable, and it is right we do all we can to tackle such behaviour. Whilst most bailiffs act above board, body-worn cameras will provide greater security for all involved - not least consumers who are often vulnerable".

Sue Brady, Enforcement Manager for the London Borough of Merton notes the positive difference body cameras have made in supporting on-duty officers. "We had a problem with some CEOs because they felt unsupported in their jobs. We had officers reporting verbal and physical aggression, verbal abuse is an everyday occurrence for them, but we’ve had officers been spat at and hit with things. It was unable to prosecute against these things that made them feel unsupported, so we looked to get body-worn cameras. We looked at a few companies and cameras, but we decided this one was the one that best met our needs."

"Since getting Reveal cameras, the problems have been reduced dramatically, even if they have not gone away completely. If you have someone shouting at you when they see the camera recording, they have the opportunity to amend their behaviour. Before we had the cameras, they would have carried on, but now most of the time, they do think twice."