EALING borough sent 46,969 debts to the bailiffs in 2022-23, a 39% increase on pre-pandemic levels, new data reveals.

National Debtline, the Money Advice Trust charity’s debt advice service, has written to the borough, recommending steps to improve debt collection practices.

Ealing says it is following the recommendations.

Steve Vaid, Money Advice Trust’s chief executive, said: “Bailiffs should only ever be used as a last resort.”

Bailiffs, or enforcement agents, can visit properties to remove and sell goods to repay certain debts, such as unpaid council tax bills and parking fines.

He noted that local authorities are under significant financial pressure, and that council tax pays for vital local services.

However, Mr Vaid said bailiff action can be distressing for people and risks pushing struggling people into deeper financial difficulty.

Ealing is in the 41% of local authorities in England and Wales to have increased its overall use of bailiffs since 2018-19.

Mr Vaid added: “Improving debt collection practices benefits not just people in financial difficulty, but councils too.”

The charity is offering six recommendations, including exempting those on council tax support from bailiff action, and establishing formal policies for residents in vulnerable circumstances.

It is also calling on the Government to support councils by offering ring-fenced funding, to provide council tax support to households on the lowest incomes.

An Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The council takes its responsibilities to collect debt arrears seriously and this includes provision of support to our residents.

“The use of debt collector agencies is a last resort after the failure of many other options.

“For council tax arrears, the council offers residents support by providing advice clinics where residents can meet council officers and enforcement agents to discuss household circumstances and the best ways forward.

“However, we have a duty to recover public money, to maintain the services we provide.”

Mr Vaid urges anyone in Ealing struggling with finances to contact National Debtline, the trust’s free debt advice service, at 0808 808 4000 or at www.nationaldebtline.org