Each Sheriff’s Office operates within a single Local Government Area (LGA) and exercises clearly defined powers under the Sheriff’s Act (Queensland) 2025. These powers are designed to complement—not replace—state-level policing.

Enforcing Local Laws

Sheriff’s Officers bring local enforcement back to street level — stepping in where council reach ends and police priorities lie elsewhere. Their presence delivers immediate authority across the everyday issues that quietly erode public order:

• Business licensing
  Shutting down unlicensed operators and holding repeat offenders to account — especially where council warnings have been ignored.

• Noise complaints
  Responding to persistent disturbances from parties, machinery, or animals — with real powers to issue fines, seize equipment, or escalate enforcement.

• Signage and public space regulations
  Cracking down on illegal advertising, obstruction of footpaths, and public space misuse — restoring order where bylaws have gone unenforced.

• General by-law enforcement
  Enforcing clean-up orders, removing hazards, and tackling chronic non-compliance around overgrowth, dumping, stray animals, and unsafe structures.

• Traffic and vehicle-related offences
  Deputies can stop vehiclesfor expiredd registration, unsafe conditions, and reckless local driving. Impaired drivers may be detained pending QPS handover — no warnings, no excuses.

Civil Enforcement Duties

Acting under court authority, the Sheriff’s Office manages a range of civil matters such as:

• Serving legal documents
  Personally delivering summonses, subpoenas, and notices — with real-world follow-up for those who think they can ignore the courts.

• Enforcing court orders
  Executing writs for possession, seizure, or compliance — including repossessions, property access, and compliance actions with backup when needed.

• Evictions and property recovery
  Lawfully removing occupants, resolving tenancy disputes, and reclaiming property under court direction — no delays, no voluntary exit required.

• Debt recovery
  Identifying, locating, and seizing goods or assets to satisfy civil judgments — especially where other agencies have failed to collect.

All actions are recorded on body-worn camera, logged digitally, and conducted in strict compliance with law.

Community Safety & Public Order

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs are authorised to maintain public peace and attend to non-emergency incidents within their Local Government Area. Their responsibilities in this domain include:

• Routine patrols
  Maintaining a regular, high-visibility presence in hotspots and overlooked zones — especially where QPS coverage is thin or reactive.

• Community group engagement
  Building ties with youth programs, elders, cultural reps, and local organisers — not to "consult", but to act on what’s been ignored.

• Responding to disturbances
  Attending fights, anti-social behaviour, and property damage — in parks, town centres, or school zones — with the power to intervene and restore order.

Where appropriate, Sheriffs may issue infringement notices, disperse unlawful gatherings, or exercise de-escalation and intervention powers in accordance with applicable Queensland legislation. All actions are to be conducted in compliance with operational protocols, and body-worn camera activation is mandatory where practicable.

Summary Offence Response

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs are empowered to respond to summary offences occurring within their jurisdiction, as defined under the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) and Justices Act 1886 (Qld). These include, but are not limited to:

• Public nuisance
  Examples: Disorderly conduct, offensive language, public intoxication, and minor disturbances in public places.

• Trespass
  Unlawful entry onto private or council-controlled property without consent or legal justification.

• Wilful damage
  Intentional destruction or defacement of property, such as vandalism, graffiti, or broken fixtures.

• Common assault
  Physical altercations involving pushing, striking, or other forms of non-aggravated physical contact.

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs may lawfully:

• Detain individuals suspected of committing a summary offence, pending transfer to the Queensland Police Service where required.

• Collect evidence and prepare briefs for prosecutorial review.

• Issue infringement notices where permitted by law.

• Engage in diversionary or restorative processes in line with local justice initiatives, where applicable.

All actions must comply with the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld), and be recorded via body-worn camera. Use of force must be reasonable, proportionate, and fully documented.

Case Management & Assignment

• Civil enforcement cases (e.g. seizures, evictions, summons) are assigned randomly using an internal allocation system

• All assignments are audited quarterly by the Oversight Committee to prevent bias or abuse of authority

• Sheriffs may override random assignment only in exceptional operational circumstances and must log the justification

All law enforcement personnel undergo:

• QPS-aligned certification programs

• Annual refresher training

• Tactical readiness, legal procedure, de-escalation, and ethics modules

Training programs are:

• 10 months minimum for Sheriffs (equivalent to QPS detective training)

• 6 months minimum for Deputies (equivalent to QPS recruit training)

No officer may perform armed duties or make arrests without completed certification.

Each Sheriff’s Office operates on a shared funding basis:

• The State Government covers up to 70% of costs

• The LGA contributes the remaining 30%, unless it qualifies for a hardship exemption

• Minimum State contribution: $385,000 per year per office

• Annual Operational Benchmarks (set by the Minister) outline staffing, equipment, and technology standards

All financial contributions are published annually, and private donations are prohibited to prevent undue influence.

Sheriff’s Offices must use digital systems that are compatible with QPS and state platforms. These include:

• Body-worn cameras (mandatory for all enforcement actions)

• Secure digital case files and evidence management

• Real-time interagency communication tools

• Public transparency dashboards (updated quarterly)

The Act mandates a 2-year pilot program before statewide implementation. Pilot criteria:

• Run in 3 to 5 LGAs, prioritising regional or remote areas

• Evaluated jointly by QPS and the Auditor-General

• Must meet 80% of defined performance indicators (e.g. response times, civil case resolution, public satisfaction)

The Act cannot be expanded unless Parliament is presented with a successful pilot evaluation report and explicitly approves expansion.

• Sheriffs and candidates may not hold or have recently held political office

• No donations, endorsements, or affiliations with political parties allowed

• All candidates must sign a declaration of neutrality

• Breach of neutrality is grounds for disqualification or removal

• Each office is subject to oversight from a Community Oversight Committee composed of:

  • One community representative (appointed by Council)

  • One representative each from QPS and the Department of Justice

  • Two independent experts in law, ethics, or governance

  The Committee has power to:

  • Review operational fairness

  • Audit funding and assignments

  • Investigate complaints

  • Refer misconduct to the CCC or relevant authorities

  A Misconduct Subcommittee publishes quarterly reports of all serious complaints or disciplinary actions.

• Councils may appoint or conduct elections for the role of Sheriff every 4 years.

• Elected Sheriffs must meet eligibility requirements:

  • Over 30 years of age

  • No criminal record

  • Completed 10-month certified training program

  • Not affiliated with a political party in the past 5 years

• Candidates are vetted by an Independent Panel before eligibility is confirmed.