Court staff protest against privatisation fears (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Court staff protest against privatisation fears

12:30pm Friday 1st February 2013 in News

COURT staff protested outside Kidderminster Magistrates Court against plans to privatise their work.

The Public and Commercial Service Union (PCS) members held placards up outside the court to demonstrate against the proposed privatisation of court enforcement.

The proposal would put the collection and enforcement of fines into the hands of private companies and the PCS fears it could lead to job losses cuts to pay and working conditions.

About 12 court fines workers from the court’s criminal enforcement collection centre turned out for the rally yesterday.

The union wants to keep control of the enforcement of fines in the hands of HM Courts and Tribunals Service, with court staff working alongside the judiciary to ensure the money is paid when it should be.

They fear the public service could be under threat of much lower collection rates by private bailiffs and “cherry-picking” of easier-to-collect cases by private companies.

Kevin Greenway, a court worker and national executive member of PCS, said: “This is specifically about the privatisation of the collection of fines across magistrates courts.

“We feel it’s entirely morally wrong. It’s not in the public interest to have private companies collecting fines.

“The people who collect fines in the private sector are not trained like staff in the courts.

“Cost of living soaring means low-paid workers face having their pay and conditions cut. Unaccountability of private bailiffs and threats to personal data.”

The walkout was part of the first in a rolling programme of industrial action. Staff at the Kidderminster court also rallied against the privatisation plans last year.