Extension of period over which enforcement agents are prevented from taking control of goods during coronavirus outbreak

New statutory instrument

New regulations have been issued in relation to the period over which enforcement agents are prevented from taking control of goods during the coronavirus outbreak

In force from 24 June 2020, the Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (Amendment) (No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (SI.No.614/2020) include provisions that amend the definition of the ‘emergency period’ in regulation 2 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 (the TCG Regulations) to replace reference to the date specified in coronavirus (COVID-19) health protection legislation in Wales and England with reference to the period from 26 March 2020 to 23 August 2020.

The explanatory memorandum to the regulations advises that the period over which restrictions created by the TCG Regulations are in place - in relation to preventing enforcement agents from taking control of goods on the highway or at residential premises, the automatic renewal of the period of validity of an enforcement notice, and the automatic renewal of enforcement agents’ certificates - is no longer linked to health protection legislation restrictions that prevented people leaving their homes (as those for England have been amended in that they no longer apply to leaving the home).

SI.No.614/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk