Ministers have announced a legal clampdown on aggressive tactics used by bailiffs following a regional newspaper expose.

Coventry Telegraph political correspondent Les Reid led a long-running investigation featuring harrowing tales from victims claiming they had been threatened and intimidated over money they  owed.

The issue was taken up by Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham, who secured a debate in the House of Commons earlier this month in a bid to highlight the problem.

It led to national coverage of the issue featuring the case studies uncovered by the Telegraph, and ministers have now agreed to introduce laws to tackle aggressive bailiffs.

Mr Cunningham said today:  “I’m not sure this issue would have taken off in the way it has without the Coventry Telegraph investigation and my subsequent questions to the minister, Early Day Motion and ten-minute rule bill.

“In recent weeks I’ve been contacted by the BBC TV, then Radio 5 Live’s Victoria Derbyshire show, and now ITV and other national organisations. A lot of credit has to go to the Coventry Telegraph. I welcome that some action has been taken on this.”

Les, who scooped both Midlands Journalist of the Year and Daily News Reporter of the Year in last year’s Midland Media Awards, also used his campaigning column in the Telegraph to call for more regulation.

He said the government’s announcement went “much further” than expected.  It will tackle the fees bailiffs can charge and also includes strict guidelines on acceptable behaviour.

Said Les:  “The evidence from letters, recorded phone calls and people’s bills we saw revealed not only these practices, but how financially stricken councils have been turning a blind eye.

“They have increased their targets for bailiffs collection, while some bailiff companies saw profits treble in the recession.

“I am very pleased these vulnerable families who bravely made a stand have helped raise the national profile of this important issue.

“We will continue to hold councils and government to account for the actions of bailiffs,” he added.

One of several stories run in the Coventry Telegraph as part of the investigation

The Telegraph’s investigation highlighted the case of a mother being treated by an NHS crisis team after becoming suicidal following redundancy and marriage break-up.

She received threatening letters and texts adding extortionate charges to her parking fine bill – despite the paper seeing evidence she was paying by agreed instalments.

Newlyn plc, the firm employed by Coventry City Council, had also sent ten separate threatening letters in two days demanding a disabled mother pay £3,000 debts, plus £425 bailiff costs – even though she had already agreed a payment plan.

Under the new laws, bailiffs will be banned from entering homes at night or where only children are present, and new safeguards will prevent them from using force against people who owe money.

Set fee scales will also be introduced, meaning companies will no longer be able to fix their own fees.