Jason Bennison

Consultant in Civil Enforcement Regulation And Reform

I act for individuals and businesses who have been adversely affected by unlawful or improper enforcement by certificated enforcement agents. My primary focus is the protection and recovery of clients’ goods and the pursuit of remedies through negotiation or civil litigation. This often involves urgent applications to the court to restrain unlawful enforcement or to obtain orders for return of property and damages under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 and Schedule 12 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

With a particular emphasis on regulatory compliance and procedural fairness, I specialise in identifying and challenging enforcement action that falls outside the legal parameters set by the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014, and the Civil Procedure Rules. I provide robust, evidence-based representation to ensure my clients are protected and that their interests are advanced with clarity, rigour, and a measured yet assertive approach.

The legal profession has historically offered limited support to those subjected to improper enforcement. The absence of specialist assistance in this area has left many vulnerable to injustice. I address that gap by offering precise and timely legal support, particularly in matters where the system too often exhibits deference to enforcement agents despite obvious procedural or substantive irregularities. My work is necessarily fast-paced, technically demanding, and frequently urgent.

In urgent cases, I prepare and file court applications, sometimes on the same day, seeking injunctions, stays of execution, or declarations concerning the invalidity of enforcement documents. These applications are accompanied by detailed witness statements and legal argument, and are designed to secure immediate relief and the preservation of clients’ goods or business continuity. Where appropriate, I work in conjunction with solicitors and barristers from a leading London firm to ensure that matters are pursued with the highest level of care and precision.

The powers conferred upon enforcement agents are substantial, yet too often they are exercised carelessly or in bad faith. The internal complaints processes offered by enforcement companies are frequently inadequate and rarely result in redress. I assist clients in pursuing civil claims where wrongdoing can be substantiated through evidence and legal analysis, ensuring enforcement companies and their agents are held to account.

I have an established record of success in securing the return of unlawfully seized goods, compensation for loss and distress, and judicial recognition of enforcement impropriety. My clients include single parents, small businesses, public sector workers, and larger corporations, each facing complex and fact-specific enforcement issues. I tailor my advice and case strategy to the needs of the client, combining technical legal analysis with clear practical advice.

I am often consulted by other legal professionals for specialist input on enforcement procedure, and I regularly contribute to policy discussions on the reform of the enforcement industry. I have addressed the Public Policy Exchange and submitted formal reform proposals to Parliament. My recent Private Members’ Bill, Driving Fairness: Proposals for Enhancing the Civil Enforcement Framework, sets out a structured set of amendments aimed at restoring integrity and oversight in the enforcement sector.

My work has been featured by the BBC and other media outlets, including investigative programming and consumer protection segments. I also provide public education through a YouTube channel focused on enforcement law and procedural safeguards. My practice is supported by a dedicated team of solicitors, legal executives, barristers, and a former police investigator, ensuring each case is managed with diligence and professionalism.

I offer an initial consultation at a fixed cost of £35, during which I provide tailored legal advice on your position and the remedies available. To proceed, you are invited to complete the form provided. I look forward to reviewing your matter and setting out the appropriate legal strategy to secure your rights.

Jason Bennison. Practitioner in Civil Enforcement (Bailiffs) Restitution.

Notable Cases

June 2024. my client sought assistance after bailiffs took money under the threat of removing goods for an unpaid court fine. The enforcement was mishandled, prompting my client to sue the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the department responsible for the Magistrates' Court. The MoJ denied liability for its agents, despite its own 2014 guidelines stating otherwise. The court initially dismissed my client’s claim, but on appeal, the Court of Appeal ruled in my client’s favour, firmly establishing that creditors are liable for the actions of enforcement agents acting on their behalf. Burton v Ministry of Justice [2024] EWCA Civ 681.

11 January 2024. In 2019, a debtor facing a £24,000 writ sought my help over overcharging by HCEA Gary Brown. The High Court granted a stay and ordered a fee review, yet Mr Brown continued enforcement. Master Lisa Sullivan later dismissed my client’s claim against him, ordered them to pay costs, and upheld his inclusion as a defendant. I advised an appeal, arguing HCEOs are liable for their agents. The Court of Appeal agreed, ruling Mr Williamson, not my client, was responsible for Mr Brown’s actions. It overturned Master Sullivan’s cost ruling, ordering Williamson to pay my client’s costs—Bone v Williamson [2024] EWCA Civ 4.

May 2023. My client, a landlord, sought my help after bailiffs visited his home over council tax for a vacant rental property. They wrongly posted the notice at his residence and refused to show proof of authority. My client took legal action, arguing their refusal breached legal requirements. The liability order also had the wrong address, which the court deemed defective. On 20 September 2023, Judge Harrison ruled in my client’s favour, ordering Bristow & Sutor to pay £10,700, including costs.

11 January 2023. My client, a drive-through car wash, contacted me after a motorcyclist harassed staff, demanding office entry. The cashier called the police, leading to a standoff as the man claimed to be an enforcement agent. CCTV showed him retrieving an Apple AirTag from a bin—dislodged from a customer's car during washing. It emerged that bailiffs had used AirTags to track her, leading to a home ambush over a company debt. My intervention halted enforcement, but police dismissed the tracking as a civil matter. My client sued two officers for incompetence and abuse of office, resulting in an out-of-court settlement.

24 May 2022. Victory for vulnerable people. On 4th November 2021, my client, who is afflicted by anxiety, had his Audi A5 seized by bailiffs without being given sufficient time to seek advice. Following this, my client pursued a detailed assessment, resulting in Master Brown disallowing all fees and charges imposed by the bailiff.

22 March 2022. My client was awarded £13,727 in damages after a police officer broke my client's car window, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, and pinned him to the ground at the behest of a bailiff holding an invalid warrant of control and attending the incorrect address.

16 December 2021. Four police officers forcefully restrain a London Black cab driver on duty at a taxi rank while bailiffs towed his cab to enforce a traffic debt warrant, which displayed a typographical error in the enforcement address. Legal representatives for both the police and the taxi driver are currently in negotiations.

21 November 2018. Bailiffs took control of a Porsche and replaced its engine before a court ordered its return to the rightful owner.

4 November 2021. A plumber was awarded compensation for 90 days of lost earnings after a bailiff towed his exempt van while he was working on a job.

17 September 2021. The police unknowingly aided a bailiff in a £51,000 jewellery theft while enforcing a High Court Writ of Control that wasn't owed by the victim. The bailiff lacked authority to be on the premises and presented the police officers with a counterfeit High Court writ of control bearing a County Court seal.

11 November 2020. A car rental company was awarded £10,000 after a bailiff was caught using a forklift to remove their vehicle.

19 August 2020. A bailiff was captured on the store's CCTV unlawfully taking money from the cash register while executing a High Court Writ of Control for an outstanding bill owed by a former tenant.

16 May 2020. A single mother successfully obtains damages after the police threatened to handcuff her for declining to open the door to bailiffs.

11 May 2020. A victim who was initially accused of tampering with controlled goods, was acquitted after removing an unlawful wheel clamp from his vehicle.

15 February 2020. The car belonging to a doctor was removed by a bailiff despite displaying a Health Emergency badge. Subsequently, the bailiff drove the vehicle, with his girlfriend in the front passenger seat, through a speed camera while driving it for his personal use.

15 March 2019. An accountant received more than £50,000 in damages for being involuntarily featured on Channel 5's television programme Can't Pay We'll Take It Away.