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Crooked_Cock t1_jaaxg00 wrote

That’s called impersonating a law enforcement officer and it is a felony.

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ConstantReader76 t1_jabj0pt wrote

This is in the United Kingdom. It's a summary offense there.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/16/section/90/2004-07-01#:~:text=(1)Any%20person%20who%20with,a%20term%20not%20exceeding%20six

And Bailiffs do go to homes for various reasons:

https://www.gov.uk/your-rights-bailiffs#:~:text=A%20bailiff%20('enforcement%20agent',that%20bailiffs%20will%20be%20used.

The landlords seem to be the ones truly breaking laws here.

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Lazypole t1_jacqoia wrote

From the UK here, I believe it.

Bailiffs are scum of the Earth. Had some turn up to my home after my grandmother passed, explained she wasn’t home because… well… and they refused to leave, threatened to take my possessions. Had to end up paying them so they would leave, I don’t think we ever got the money back in the end either.

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SilasX t1_jadplzi wrote

Okay, sorry, I'm still lost here (USA), even after reading those links and the articles. From wiktionary, the UK meanings of bailiffs still show that they have law enforcement powers.

I don't understand what would make them more scary if perceived as "police officers" and what rights they could falsely dupe someone into believing, as police officers, that they would not be able to if correctly perceived as bailiffs.

Can you explain that part?

Edit: Like, from me, this reads as, "Drug Enforcement Agency agents impersonating FBI agents to confiscate drugs." Like, what? The agents have the same powers, and they'd be able to seize drugs as DEA already.

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Jakewb t1_jadsa7j wrote

Wiktionary probably isn’t the most useful source of information here.

Bailiffs in the UK do not have ‘law enforcement’ powers in any meaningful sense. Specifically, they do not have powers of arrest and their powers to enter homes are very, very constrained. Except in very limited circumstances, and as a last resort, they cannot use force to enter your home and you don’t have to let them in.

If they are presenting themselves as police officers then it is very much to their advantage to do so, as people are much more likely to let them into their home, and generally to do what they’re told.

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SilasX t1_jadt21i wrote

>Wiktionary probably isn’t the most useful source of information here.

Okay but neither was the original parent.

From their link:

>Bailiffs are allowed to force their way into your home to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty, but only as a last resort.

> If you do not let a bailiff in or agree to pay them:

> - they could take things from outside your home, for example your car > - you could end up owing even more money

That sounds like law enforcement powers.

It sounds like the difference is:

> If they are presenting themselves as police officers then it is very much to their advantage to do so, as people are much more likely to let them into their home, and generally to do what they’re told.

Which would have been nice to be told in the original comment so I couldn't figure out what subtlety distinguishes bailiffs from police officers.

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paul-d9 t1_jab7ecu wrote

If they didn't have any identifying marks on their clothes saying they're police and didn't identify themselves as police I'd find it hard to believe they'd be arrested for wearing a tactical vest and pants.

It's not like the police have unique uniforms for the most part, especially when they wear tactical gear.

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AndyB1976 t1_jab9hz0 wrote

By-law people in my city dress and look like cops. Right down to the bullet-proof vests they wear. Had some show up at our house last spring but no one was home. Thought they were cops from the doorbell cam. Was a few anxious days wondering why they had been here until they showed back up again.

(Our street facing backyard fences were too high. We had just moved in to the house and our neighbors called for some fucking reason.)

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Focacciaboudit t1_jabui65 wrote

What a sad state of affairs when city code enforcement can't crawl up your ass for petty shit without worrying about getting shot.

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AndyB1976 t1_jabupy3 wrote

What's even more ridiculous about it, is that this is in Canada.

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Focacciaboudit t1_jabuxex wrote

Didn't expect that. Do you think they're in any legitimate danger, or just hoping to look like cops to be taken seriously?

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AndyB1976 t1_jabvo6j wrote

They were definitely trying to appear tough to be taken seriously. They acted like cops... Knocked on the door then back off the porch while hooking their thumbs into their vest straps like they were waiting to be aggressively confronted. I looked the one guy up and by his education and stuff, he looked like he had flunked out of more serious policing/security work. Totally made sense after the fact. He pretty much leads by-law in our town and they have absolutely taken on a more aggressive "policing" form of enforcement. It's actually kind of embarrassing seeing these guys driving around in their police like vehicles and telling people their lawns can't be 5" and must be only 4.5"

Our fence was 9ft tall and the city by-law dictated 8' 5"

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DetritusK t1_jacms1g wrote

Build dirt up around the base. Magically in compliance now!

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ihate282 t1_jac3d22 wrote

Fyi, in Canada, legally speaking they are police they just don't have the right to carry guns.

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FTR_1077 t1_jad2vqp wrote

>hooking their thumbs into their vest straps like they were waiting to be aggressively confronted.

I know it looks like that, but is actually done out of comfort. I use vests and do that all the time, it's a way to rest your arms.

Still, dressing like going to a war zone in suburbia is the most ridiculous shit people do..

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sudoku7 t1_jach8xg wrote

Ya where I am it was weird. The court baliffs got bodycams before the police or sheriffs department by a few years.

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blahbleh112233 t1_jadw1rv wrote

You can get away with looking extremely close to a cop and driving essentially a cop car depending on the law. Look up Jeremy Dewitte. He's never been convicted of impersonation because of the laws and even got a cop fired over the accusation.

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Necessary-Tap-1368 t1_jaatoei wrote

Definitely should be illegal. Next thing you know the pizza guy, then your hydro meter reader , mailman etc,etc.

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samuelgato t1_jaaxsd8 wrote

I'm pretty sure impersonating a police officer is, in fact, illegal

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person749 t1_jab103c wrote

Or people could, get this, just pay their rent.

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jamcdonald120 t1_jab9a4p wrote

you didnt read the article. The attempted eviction was also illegal

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Real_Jackraps t1_jab13fs wrote

Ok? Weird take. Civil problems require criminal reactions?

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SuteSnute t1_jacjuqi wrote

Lick those boots. Maybe your landlord will see this post and give you a good scritch behind the ears for being such a good boy.

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CreedThoughts--Gov t1_jacnr1i wrote

You assume there are no cases of tenats being harassed when they do pay their rent? Sure.

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soda-jerk t1_jabq7al wrote

But dude, just imagine: You just ordered from Pizza Police. It's been about twenty minutes, and you hear a siren in the distance...

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assjackal t1_jacgopq wrote

Tbh these are all more respectable and dangerous jobs than being a police officer.

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Thanatofobia t1_jabte1a wrote

In the Netherlands, even wearing an outfit that could be mistaken for a police uniform is illegal.

Collection agencies and such also just love threatening with eviction or seizing of property to pay your debt. Which has been made kinda illegal a few years ago.

A long time ago, my late FIL(he was a fiscal advisor and had his own video rental business in the 90's) told me that unless the collection agents are accompanied by actual police and bear a letter that starts with "in the name of the king", they can't do anything.

And, no, its not like the actual king issues those letters, its legalese wording that means its a court order.

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InvisiblePhilosophy t1_jaazx14 wrote

There should absolutely be legal action taken - against both the eviction firm and the landlord.

I don’t know londons laws, but there should be something that covers this horrifying scenario.

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jayfeather31 t1_jaapppo wrote

That's screwed up for multiple reasons.

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