Bogus bailiffs threaten violence

Press, 24 March 1984, Page 8

Bogus bailiffs threaten violence

Threats of violence or imprisonment have been used by persons masquerading as District Court bailiffs to collect money. Bogus bailiffs had been visiting Christchurch homes demanding money, said the District Court registrar, Mr Robert Twidle, yesterday. He had been told that threats of imprisonment or physical violence had been used to obtain money. Mr Twidle said he did not know how many persons were involved or how long it had been going on, but the incidence of persons posing as District Court bailiffs was growing. “It is causing a great deal of concern,” he said.

He had had complaints from the public, and the genuine bailiffs had also received complaints when

they had visited people. The court’s bailiffs had had an aggressive response from people who had paid a bogus official only a few days before, he said. “It makes the job of our 11 bailiffs very difficult and the rapport that once existed with debtors has gone,” Mr Twidle said. Mr Twidle said there was probably nothing he could do even if the imposters were traced as he was “not a party to what was happening.” Genuine bailiffs carried identification cards and anyone saying he was a bailiff should be asked to produce his card, he said.

"Our bailiffs also deal with the situation with tact and discretion.”

Mr Twidle said the bogus bailiffs were not employed

by Christchurch’s three established debt-collecting agencies but by someone else to whom a debt was owed by those visited. A spokesman for the Christchurch C. 1.8. said that persons posing as bailiffs could lay themselves open to charges of obtaining money by false pretence or demanding money with menaces.

The spokesman also warned persons not to think that a debt had been cleared if a bogus bailiff was paid. The debt still existed until the court received payment. Anyone who tried to get away with a debt by laying a false complaint with the police about persons masquerading as bailiffs could also face charges, he said.