Rogue bailiffs 'have to be dealt with'

The government will announce new measures to tackle aggressive bailiffs today.

Bailiffs will be banned from entering properties at night or when only children are present and new safeguards will prevent them from using force against people who owe money.

They will also no longer have free rein to fix their own fees, as new set costs are brought in.

Jon Dawkins, a bailiff, told the Today programme's Justin Webb that there is a "rouge element" in any profession, "and that has to be dealt with."

Gillian Guy, the chief executive of the Citizens Advice Bureau, added that "we get tens of thousands of complaints every year."

"The issue starts with bailiffs not understanding what their rights are," she added.

This item was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today, external programme on Friday 25 January 2013.