WHAT IS THE
SHERIFFS ACT ?
The Sheriff’s Act (Queensland) 2025 proposes a new model of local law enforcement: Sheriff’s Offices established Across Queensland’s Local Government Areas.
Each local Office would be:
embedded locally – led by a PUBLICLY elected, or council appointed Sheriff, and staffed by Deputies drawn from the community.
Legally empowered – operating under state law, with clearly defined civil enforcement and public order powers.
Professionally trained – all officers & Deputies certified to Queensland Police Service standards, with annual retraining and external oversight.
A Focused Role
Sheriffs are not police detectives, nor are they political figures.
Their role is clear and limited:
Enforce local ordinances (noise, signage, business compliance)
Serve and execute civil court orders (evictions, seizures, warrants)
Respond to Priority 2 (summary) offences (trespass, minor assault, public nuisance)
Maintain public order through patrols and visible presence
Assist QPS in Priority 1 situations under structured coordination protocols
This is not duplication or expansion of powers. It is a complementary service — addressing the gaps felt in local, everyday, lower-level enforcement — freeing up state police resources to focus on serious crime.
Why It Matters
In many communities across Queensland, civil disputes drag on and disturbances escalate simply because police are diverted elsewhere. A Sheriff’s Office in your Local Government Area ensures:
A reliable, lawful response to matters too “small” for an overstretched QPS capacity, but still too important to ignore.
Familiarity and trust – Sheriffs & their Deputies are all elected/drawn from the Communities in which they serve, known to the community they protect.
Early action – and a lawful presence on the ground to resolve issues before they spiral.
How It would Be Introduced
Council choice, not a mandate. Local councils apply to the Minister for Justice if they want a Sheriff’s Office in their community.
Shared funding, not a new bill. The State covers 50–70% of the benchmark cost (minimum $385,000 per Office). Councils put in the remainder — usually by redirecting existing compliance budgets, not raising rates. If a council can’t afford it, the State can step in with full funding under hardship rules.
Pilot first, not statewide overnight. A 2-year pilot in 3–5 local government areas will test the model in real conditions.
Independent review before expansion. The pilot is jointly reviewed by QPS, the Attorney-General, and the Auditor-General. Expansion only proceeds if at least 80% of strict performance benchmarks are met.
Legal & Operational Limits
Sheriff’s Offices — and every sworn Deputy — operate under strict legal boundaries and are subject to independent oversight. While they can enforce laws and maintain public order, they cannot:
Investigate or manage serious (Priority I) indictable offences without written authorisation from the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
→ Deputies may only act as first responders or assist under the Sheriff’s supervision.
→ The Sheriff may be granted limited investigative authority in sensitive local cases, but only under defined legal conditions and with QPS approval.Conduct tactical or high-risk operations independently. These must be authorised by law and coordinated with the state police.
Exercise powers outside their Local Government Area (LGA).
Accept political endorsements, donations, or private funding under any circumstances.
Every action in the field must be:
Recorded on body-worn camera
Logged in to a state-integrated digital system
Reviewed by a Community Oversight Committee
The Sheriff’s Mandate
In addition to leading their Office, the Sheriff holds distinct statutory powers:
Issuing compliance notices
Swearing in Deputies
Acting as the point of contact with the public, council, courts, and QPS
Where permitted by law — and with QPS approval — Sheriffs may investigate select Category 1 offences (very serious indictable offences (maximum penalty > 7 years). The difference is not in powers, but in position: they are local, known, and already on the ground.
