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CIVEA president

by Mark Rowe

Amy Collins from Leicestershire-based enforcement agency Rundles has become the president of the trade association for civil enforcement agencies in England and Wales, CIVEA. Aย new Vice President Michael Line, Managing Director of JTR Collections in Northamptonshire.

Each year, civil enforcement agents enforce around ยฃ1 billion of unpaid debt in England and Wales. The association points to research that shows a rise in attacks on and abuse of enforcement agents, as also reflected in a report by the Enforcement Conduct Board. Amy, pictured, said she has three priorities that will guide her presidency.

She said: โ€œMy first priority is to make regular Ministry of Justice fee reviews a standing priority. As president, I will ensure this issue remains firmly and consistently on the table through sustained evidenceled engagement with the Ministry of Justice. A routine review mechanism is central for longterm stability and professionalism, and it really will be a central focus of my presidency.

โ€œA predictable approach to fee reviews provides fairness and stability and gives members the confidence to continue investing in welfare, training, safety and operational resilience. This really cannot be a once in a decade negotiation.

โ€œSecondly, I want to support members as we prepare for statutory regulation. Statutory regulation is coming. My priority is to ensure every member is supported through that transition with clear guidance, strong representation and the tools needed to meet any new expectations with confidence. Regulations should raise standards, strengthen trust and elevate our profession, but not place unnecessary burden on it. Under my leadership, CIVEA will continue to shape what comes next, rather than simply respond to it.

โ€œAnd thirdly, I want to improve public perception of our industry and strengthen our workforce. Trust, both public trust and internal confidence, underpins our legitimacy. We must communicate more openly and more clearly about what enforcement is, the safeguards in place and the professionalism of the people that do the work. Just as importantly, we should listen closely to those that deliver these services every single day.

โ€œAs president, I will take every opportunity and use every available platform to increase public confidence, awareness and understanding of our industry, and to ensure the reality of modern professional enforcement is better known. Strengthening these conversations externally and internally will be a central pillar of my presidency.

โ€œCIVEA’s core purpose is to represent a professional, ethical and accountable enforcement sector. Our work on standards, training, safeguarding and transparency continues to set the tone for the industry. We have made meaningful progress in our engagement with local authorities, government and the courts, but there is still much more to do.โ€

She said 2025 and 2026 have marked the start of a new chapter for enforcement because for the first time in over a decade, government has formally recognised the pressures, expectations and professional responsibilities placed on enforcement agents as part of the Ministry of Justice’s review of the Taking Control of Goods fee structure, which came into force on May 1.

She added: โ€œA fair and sustainable fee structure is not about organisational gain; it’s about ensuring the whole system can be properly resourced from frontline agents, supporting staff, compliance and training and technology. All are needed to deliver safe, consistent outcomes for clients and the public, and this remains one of CIVEA’s most important priorities.

โ€œAt the same time, statutory regulation – once a distant conversation – is now on the horizon, and we have an opportunity to help shape a regulatory framework that is consistent, clear and capable of enhancing public confidence.โ€

Visit www.civea.co.uk.