WHAT IS THE

SHERIFFS ACT?

The Sheriffs Act gives Queensland councils the option to establish their own local law enforcement service, led by a Sheriff, staffed by Deputies from the community, and working hand in hand with the Queensland Police Service.

Everyday matters are handled locally by people who know the area, freeing QPS to focus on serious crime and emergencies. Communities gain faster help, a familiar presence and stronger trust, especially in regional and rural towns.

VOLUNTARY
Councils choose whether to take part.

LOCAL

Authority only within the council's own Local Government Area.

QPS-TRAINED
Sheriffs and Deputies are trained to Queensland Police Service standards.

OVERSEEN

Pilot programs, independent review and ongoing community oversight.

01

what the act sets up

Under the proposed Sheriffs Act, any Local Government Area may establish its own Sheriff's Office. It's led by a local, serves locals, and works hand in hand with Queensland Police. The Office handles everyday matters close to home, so QPS can stay focused on serious crime.

LED BY A SHERIFF
Appointed by the council or elected by the local community. The Sheriff is a bridge between the people they serve and the wider justice system. They lead the Office, listen to residents, set local priorities, and answer directly to their community.

STAFFED BY DEPUTIES
Recruited from within the region, Deputies are locals serving locals, working hand in hand with Queensland Police. They handle everyday matters close to home while QPS leads on serious crime, and each makes the other stronger.

02

what SHERIFFS AND DEPUTIES DO

Sheriffs and Deputies are trained to the same relevant Queensland Police Service standards, and may exercise their powers only within their own Local Government Area. Their priority is the everyday needs of their local community. When a major situation arises, Deputies can step in to support QPS with important duties such as public order, traffic control, and patrols of CBD and tourist areas. Every hour Deputies spend on this work is an hour QPS officers can put toward serious crime and emergencies. That means police resources are free to go where they're needed most, and the community gains a closer, more visible law enforcement presence.

THEIR FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

LOCAL ORDINANCE

SUMMARY OFFENCES

CIVIL COURT ORDERS

VISIBLE PUBLIC ORDER PRESENCE

Keep QPS free to tackle serious & complex criminal matters or emergency situations.

Sheriffs' and Deputies' right to exercise their powers stops at the Local Government Area boundary.

03

Where Sheriff's Officers are first to attend an incident involving a serious offence, they may take lawful action to:

FIRST ON SCENE

PRESERVE LIFE

Sheriffs & Deputies move immediately to protect life and give first aid until help arrives.

PREVENT HARM

Sheriffs & Deputies step in to stop further harm or escape, using only the force needed to keep people safe. Life & safety come first.

SECURE THE SCENE

They can take action to secure the scene, protect the integrity of the evidence, and, in serious cases, provide on-site support to Queensland Police.

THEN

HANDOVER TO QPS

QPS must be notified immediately, and full control passes to police as soon as they arrive.

All Sheriff's Offices operate:

Within State Law

Under defined operational limits

In coordination with the Queensland Police Service

04

VOLUNTARY, SHARED & ACCOUNTABLE

VOLUNTARY
Participation is voluntary. Each council decides, with its community, whether a Sheriff's Office is right for them.

SHARED FUNDING
Council and the State share the cost, with extra State support for areas in genuine financial hardship.

TESTED & OVERSEEN
Introduced through pilot programs, checked by independent review, and kept accountable through ongoing community oversight.

The Sheriffs Act brings back something communities have always valued: local people keeping the peace in the place they call home. Backed by modern training, clear limits and real accountability, Sheriffs and Deputies take care of everyday matters, while QPS stands as Queensland's specialist frontline for serious crime. Residents get help from people who know them, councils get results for what they already spend, and police get the room to do what only they can do. Each part makes the others stronger.