Bailiffs are causing "trauma and humiliation" to families by breaking into their homes and seizing goods during the recession, an MP has claimed.

Karen Buck (Lab Regents Park and Kensington North) is trying to change the law to prevent bailiffs forcibly entering homes over unpaid fines.

At the moment, bailiffs can use force to for fines such as non-payment of a TV licence or motoring offences.

Ms Buck claimed the stress of receiving a visit from bailiffs can cause mental illness, and cost taxpayers' money by pushing up demand for NHS treatment.

She is sponsoring a Bill which would change the law to remove the right of forcible entry. It received its first reading earlier this month, and will return to the Commons on October 16.

Speaking during the Bill's first reading, she said: "The recession of the past 18 months has painfully demonstrated the precariousness of many people's financial situation. Debt and debt recovery action have become a reality for ever larger numbers of people, and the arrival of a bailiff is, for many of those people, the ultimate trauma and humiliation.

"Indeed, we know of cases in which people have had heart attacks when the bailiffs have arrived. The mental and physical stress that people undergo is one of the worst things that will ever happen to them in their life."

She added: "Of course, bailiffs and debt recovery mechanisms have to be used. There are always people who abuse trust, neglect their finances and refuse to engage with their creditors, and, ultimately, they must pay an appropriate price."

But Ms Buck continued: "The truth is that many of those subject to such enforcement action are desperate and vulnerable people, and many are also victims of error. For them, even the actions of bailiffs who behave entirely reasonably - and they do not always do that - are disproportionate and excessive."

Her proposals are unlikely to become law unless they win Government support.

London MPs supporting her Bill include Clive Efford (Lab Eltham), Andrew Dismore (Lab Hendon), Andrew Slaughter (Lab Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush) and Andrew Love (Lab Edmonton).

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