An Act of folly

摘要

Philip Evans acknowledges that the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act is intended to prevent people evading payment of what they owe. But he sees it as an indiscriminate law that will be particularly hard on the poor and vulnerable. WE SHOULD never be too critical of governments wanting to maximise collection of taxes, fines and other revenue. That is what we expect of responsible government. But we also expect things such as social justice and economic stability. I doubt ministers and officials thought the draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill would go anywhere fast, but on 26 September 2006 the BBC broadcast a Whistleblower programme about bailiffs. It was based around the revelations of an undercover reporter who worked for two large bailiff companies. It bumped the Bill up the government's list of priorities.