A DELEGATION from the Hong Kong judiciary has been visiting the region to learn about the work of bailiffs and High Court enforcement officers. Among those to welcome the group was the UK's largest High Court enforcement agency, Essex-based Shergroup, which specialises in debt collection through its Sherforce division and the removal of squatters, travellers and protestors through its specialist property division, Sherbond.

A DELEGATION from the Hong Kong judiciary has been visiting the region to learn about the work of bailiffs and High Court enforcement officers.

Among those to welcome the group was the UK's largest High Court enforcement agency, Essex-based Shergroup, which specialises in debt collection through its Sherforce division and the removal of squatters, travellers and protestors through its specialist property division, Sherbond.

As well as visiting Shergroup's Braintree headquarters, the three guests joined the company's enforcement officers as they executed a writ of Fieri Fascias, to reclaim money owed to a debtor, and a Writ of Possession.

Claire Sandbrook, Shergroup chief executive, said: “It was a privilege to be chosen to host our colleagues from Hong Kong on their fact-finding mission. They had many interesting questions for us, ranging from how our system is structured, to our legislation and technology.”

The Bailiff's Office in Hong Kong serves two key roles as part of the Judiciary; one to serve summonses and other legal documents, as well as promoting full compliance with court and tribunal judgments and orders.

Sunny Kwan, chief bailiff (administration and admiralty) of the Hong Kong Judiciary Court Orders Section, said: “It was a fascinating insight for us into how a progressive and forward-thinking company operates. Shergroup sets an excellent example as to how High Court enforcement is undertaken in the UK and we will return home, having seen and learned about many new and exciting initiatives.”

The group's trip to the UK was organised by Barrie Minney, senior bailiff at Brighton and Hove City Council, who accompanied the Hong Kong delegates to Shergroup's new headquarters in Braintree.

Mr Minney, chairman of the Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum, was contacted by Mr Kwan and arranged for the Hong Kong team to visit the Department for Constitutional Affairs, a county court and a private bailiff firm to get a wide picture of the way the UK's enforcement service operates.

“I knew Claire from the early days of the then Lord Chancellor's Department Enforcement Review when we sat on its advisory group,” said Mr Minney. “I asked her if the delegation could see the way her people operated. I'm so grateful to her and others who helped out because they gave their time for free.”