Jason Bennison

Lawyer in Action Against Bailiffs and Detaining Authorities

I protect individuals and businesses from the devastating impact of unlawful or improper enforcement by enforcement agents. When goods are seized without legal authority or enforcement powers are abused, I move swiftly to recover property, stop the enforcement in its tracks, and pursue full remedies. Whether through urgent same-day court applications or targeted civil claims under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 and Schedule 12 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, my focus is on delivering decisive, effective action that safeguards my clients’ rights and restores what was wrongly taken.

With a particular focus on regulatory compliance and procedural fairness, I represent clients who are otherwise excluded from legal assistance due to lack of means, alongside those instructing privately. I specialise in identifying and challenging enforcement action that falls outside the legal framework set by the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014, and the Civil Procedure Rules. My representation is evidence-based, rigorous, and assertive, ensuring each case is advanced with precision and clarity.

The legal profession has historically offered little specialist support to those subjected to improper enforcement, leaving many vulnerable to injustice. I close that gap by providing precise and timely intervention, particularly in situations where delay could cause irreparable harm. My work is urgent, technically demanding, and tailored to securing immediate relief and lasting protection.

In urgent matters, I prepare and file applications to the court, often on the same day, seeking injunctions, stays of execution, or declarations on the invalidity of enforcement documents. These applications are supported by detailed witness statements and legal submissions designed to protect property and preserve business continuity. Where necessary, I work alongside solicitors and barristers from a leading London firm to ensure each matter is handled with the highest level of care and legal skill.

The powers conferred upon enforcement agents are extensive, yet too often they are exercised carelessly or in bad faith. Internal complaints processes are rarely adequate and seldom deliver redress. I help clients overcome these barriers by pursuing civil claims where wrongdoing can be demonstrated through evidence and legal analysis, ensuring enforcement companies and their agents are held fully to account.

I have secured the return of unlawfully seized goods, obtained compensation for financial loss and distress, and achieved judicial recognition of enforcement impropriety. My clients range from single parents and small business owners to public sector employees and corporate entities, each facing complex and fact-specific enforcement challenges. I combine precise legal analysis with practical, outcome-focused advice to achieve the best possible result in every case.

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 in investigative programming and consumer protection segments. I also provide public education through a YouTube channel dedicated to enforcement law and procedural safeguards. Supported by a team of experienced solicitors, legal executives, barristers, and a former police investigator, I ensure that every case is handled with the highest level of diligence, professionalism, and strategic focus.

I offer an initial consultation for a fixed cost of £35, providing clear, tailored legal advice on your position and the remedies available. If you are facing improper or unlawful enforcement, do not delay — complete the consultation form today so I can review your matter and set out the legal strategy needed to protect your rights and secure the outcome you deserve.

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.