Sheriffs Act 1887
1887 c.55An Act to consolidate the Law relating to the office of Sheriff in England, and to repeal certain enactments relating to Sheriffs which have ceased to be in force or have become unnecessary.
Preliminary¶
1 Short title.¶
This Act may be cited as the Sheriffs Act 1887.C52 Extent of Act.¶
This Act shall not extend to Scotland or Ireland.Appointment and Qualification¶
C63 Annual appointment of sheriff and duration of office.¶
4 Qualification of sheriffs.¶
A person shall not be appointed sheriff F3. . . except he have sufficient land within his county F3. . . to answer the Queen and her people.5 Same person not to be chosen twice in three years.¶
A person who has been sheriff of a county for a whole year shall not within three years next ensuing be appointed sheriff of that county unless there is no other person in the county qualified to fill the office.6 Nomination and appointment of sheriffs.¶
7 Declaration of office.¶
Powers, Duties, and Liabilities¶
8 Powers of sheriff for posse comitatus.¶
F109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
10 Duties as to execution of writs.¶
F1211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1413 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
15 Liability for wrongful imprisonment.¶
A person unlawfully imprisoned by a sheriff or any of his officers shall have an action against such sheriff in like manner as against any other person that should imprison him without warrant.16 Liability for escape.¶
C1017 Disability to act as justice of the peace.¶
A person shall not, while he is sheriff of a county, act as a justice of the peace in any local justice area consisting of or including the whole or a part ofF17 that county, and if he does so act, all his acts done as such justice of the peace shall be void.F1818 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1919 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
20 Fees and poundage.¶
Accounts¶
F2321 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2422 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Under-Sheriff and Officers¶
C11C1223 Obligation to appoint under-sheriff and declaration of office by under-sheriff.¶
24 Obligation to appoint deputy resident in London.¶
Every sheriff shall appoint a sufficient deputy, who shall be resident or have an office within one mile from the Inner Temple Hall, for the receipt of writs, the granting of warrants thereon, the making of returns thereto, and the acceptance of all rules and orders to be made on or touching the execution of any process or writ to be directed to such sheriff.C1425 Execution of office by under-sheriff on death or suspension of sheriff.¶
C1526 Declaration by bailiffs, &c.¶
- before any judge of the High Court; or
- in the county in which he exercises his authority before a justice of the peace.
27 Sale of offices prohibited.¶
Outgoing Sheriff¶
F3228 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Miscellaneous¶
29 Punishment for misconduct.¶
C16C1730 Filing and exemption from duty of declaration of office.¶
Application of Act in Special Cases¶
F4231 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F4332 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
33 Saving for privileges of city of London and approval of election of sheriffs of London.¶
F4634 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F4735 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F4836 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
37 Saving for Duchy of Cornwall.¶
Nothing in this Act shall be prejudicial to the rights of the Crown in right of the Duchy of Cornwall, or to the Duke of Cornwall when there is a Duke of Cornwall.Definitions and Repeal¶
38 Definitions.¶
In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—- F49The expression “county”, in relation to England, means, subject to the provisions of Schedule 2A to this Act, a county for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1972;
- “enforcement officer” means an individual who is authorised to act as an enforcement officer under the Courts Act 2003;
- The expression “writ” includes any process.
- F52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C1839 Repeal.¶
F54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 ¶
SCHEDULES
THE FIRST SCHEDULE ¶
Form of Warrant appointing Sheriff
Section 6 (2).
At the Court at the day of present the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty in Council.
To A.B.,of
Whereas Her Majesty was this day pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to nominate you for and appoint you to be sheriff of the county of during Her Majesty’s pleasure:
These are therefore to require you to take the custody and charge of the said county, and duly to perform the duties of sheriff thereof during Her Majesty’s pleasure, whereof you are duly to answer according to law.
Dated this day of
By Her Majesty’s command.
THE SECOND SCHEDULE ¶
Sections 7(1),23(3).
Declaration of Sheriff and Under Sheriff¶
I, A.B.,of , in the county of do solemnly declare that I will well and truly serve the Queen’s Majesty *[and also his Royal Highness Duke of Cornwall] in the office of sheriff/under sheriff of the county of and promote Her Majesty’s *[and his Royal Highness’s] profit in all things that belong to my office as far as I legally can or may; I will truly preserve the Queen’s rights *[and the rights of his Royal Highness] and all that belongeth to the Crown *[or Duchy of Cornwall]; I will not assent to decrease, lessen, or conceal the rights of the Queen F59. . .*[or the rights of his Royal Highness, F59. . .]; and whenever I shall have knowledge that the rights of the Crown *[or Duchy] are concealed or withdrawn in any matter or thing I will do my utmost to make them be restored to the Crown *[or Duchy] again; and if I may not do it myself I will inform the Queen *[or his Royal Highness] or some of Her Majesty’s judges thereof; I will not respite or delay to levy the Queen’s debts for any gift promise reward or favour where I may raise the same without great grievance to the debtors; I will do right as well to poor as to rich in all things belonging to my office; I will do no wrong to any man for any gift reward or promise nor for favour or hatred; I will disturb no man’s right, and will truly and faithfully acquit at the Exchequer all those of whom I shall receive any debts or sums or money belonging to the Crown *[or Duchy]; I will take nothing whereby the Queen *[or his Royal Highness] may lose or whereby her *[or his] right may be disturbed injured or delayed; I will truly return and truly serve all the Queen’s writs according to the best of my skill and knowledge; [I will take no bailiffs into my service but such as I will answer for;]†I will truly set and return reasonable and due issues of them that be within my bailiwick according to their estate and circumstances, and make due pannels of persons able and sufficient and not suspected or procured as is appointed by the statutes of this realm; [I have not sold or let to farm, nor contracted for, nor have I granted or promised for reward or benefit, nor will I sell or let to farm nor contract for or grant for reward or benefit by myself or any other person for me or for my use directly or indirectly my sheriffwick or any bailiwick thereof or any office belonging thereunto or the profits of the same to any person or persons whatsoever;]††I will truly and diligently execute the good laws and statutes of this realm, and in all things well and truly behave myself in my office for the honour of the Queen *[and his Royal Highness] and the good of her subjects, and discharge the same according to the best of my skill and power.
*The words within square brackets to be added in case of the Duchy of Cornwall.†In the case of under-sheriffs, omit the words between brackets.††In the case of under-sheriffs, omit the words between brackets, and say: [“I have not bought purchased or taken to farm or contracted for nor have I promised or given any consideration nor will I buy purchase or take to farm or contract for promise or give any consideration whatsoever by myself or any other person for me or for my use directly or indirectly to any person whomsoever for the office of under-sheriff of the county of which I am now to enter upon and enjoy, nor for the profits of the same nor for any bailiwick thereof or any other place or office belonging thereunto; I have not sold nor contracted for or let to farm, nor have I granted or promised for reward or benefit by myself or any other person for me or for my use directly or indirectly any bailiwick thereof or any other place or office belonging thereunto.”]
FORM OF DECLARATION FOR BAILIFF, DEPUTY, OR OFFICER OF SHERIFF¶
Section 26
I, A.B.,do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare that I will not use or exercise the office of corruptly during the time that I shall remain therein F60. . .
SCHEDULE 2A ¶
MEANING OF “COUNTY”
Section 38
For the purposes of this Act, the counties or parts of counties specified in column (2) of the following Table shall be deemed to form one county known by the name specified in respect of those counties or parts in column (1) of the Table—
(1) (2) Bedfordshire Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Cheshire Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and, Halton and Warrington Cumbria Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness Derbyshire Derbyshire and Derby Devon Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset Durham Durham , Darlington and Hartlepool and so much of the county of Stockton-on-Tees as lies north of the line for the time being of the centre of the River Tees The East Riding of Yorkshire The East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull (City of) East Sussex East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Essex Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Gloucestershire Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Hampshire Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Kent Kent and the Medway Towns Lancashire Lancashire, Blackburn and Blackpool Leicestershire Leicestershire and Leicester Lincolnshire Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire North Yorkshire North Yorkshire, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and York and so much of the county of Stockton-on-Tees as lies south of the centre for the time being of the river Tees Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Shropshire Shropshire and The Wrekin Somerset Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and North West Somerset Staffordshire Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Wiltshire Wiltshire and Thamesdown
F65THIRD SCHEDULE ¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Footnotes
- C1“Writ” to be construed as not including writ for parliamentary elections: Representation of the People Act 1948 (c. 65), Sch. 10 Pt. II, para. 4
- C2References to sheriff to be construed as references to high sheriff: Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), s. 219(1)
- I1Act wholly in force at Royal Assent
- C3Act: power to amend conferred (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 62(3) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 6(3), Sch. 5
- C4Act excluded (temp. from 19.7.1996 to 31.3.1998) by S.I. 1996/1867, art. 4(2)(a)
- C5Reference to Ireland to be construed as exclusive of Republic of Ireland: S.R. & O. 1923/405 (Rev. X, p. 298: 1923, P. 400), art. 2.
- C6S. 3: power to amend conferred (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 62(2), (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 6(3), Sch. 5
- F1Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 (c. 39), Sch. 1 Pt. I
- F2S. 3(4) added (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 62(1) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 6(3), Sch. 5
- F3Words repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F4Words in s. 6(1) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 145, 146, 148, Sch. 17 para. 4, Sch. 18 Pt. 4; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 28, 30(d)
- F5Words in s. 6(1) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- C7Reference to clerk of the peace of the county to be construed as reference to proper officer of county council: Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 1 and Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 4(1)(b)
- C8S. 6(3) modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F6S. 6(3A)(3B) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 62(4) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/31987, art. 6(3), Sch. 5
- F7Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)
- C9S. 7(1) modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F8S. 7(1)(a)(b) and preceding word substituted (1.4.2005) for words by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 58; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
- F9S. 8(1) repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 3 Pt. III
- F10S. 9 repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
- F11S. 10(2) repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F12S. 11 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F13S. 12 repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. I
- F14Ss. 13, 14(2)(3) repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
- F15S. 14 repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F16S. 16(2) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- C10S. 17 modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F17Words in s. 17 substituted (1.4.2005) for words by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 59; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
- F18S. 18 repealed by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38), Sch. 5 Pt. V
- F19S. 19 repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
- F20S. 20(1) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F21Words in s. 20(3) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F22S. 20(4) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F23S. 21 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F24S. 22 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- C11S. 23 amended by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), s. 219(5)
- C12References to clerk of the peace for the county to be construed as references to proper officer of county council: Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 1 and Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 4(1)(b)
- C13S. 23(1)(3) modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F25S. 23(2) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F26S. 23(3)(a)(b) and preceding word substituted (1.4.2005) for words by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 60; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
- C14S. 25 amended by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), s. 40(4)
- C15S. 26 modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F27Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. I
- F28Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981 (c. 19), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. V
- F29S. 26(1)(a)(b) and preceding word substituted (1.4.2005) for words by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 61(3); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)
- F30S. 26(2) inserted (15.3.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 61(4); S.I. 2004/401, art. 2(b)(iii) (with art. 3)
- F31Words in s. 27(1) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F32S. 28 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F33Words repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F34S. 29(1)(a)(b) repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 3 Pt. III
- F35Words in s. 29(1)(2) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F36S. 29(2)(b) repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I
- F37S. 29(2A) inserted (15.3.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 100, 110, Sch. 8 para. 62; S.I. 2004/401, art. 2(b)(iii)
- F38Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
- F39Words repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I
- C16References to clerk of the peace for the county to be construed as references to proper officer of county council: Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 1 and Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 4(1)(b)
- C17S. 30 modified by Administration of Justice Act 1964 (c. 42), s. 19(4)
- F40Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981 (c. 19), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. V
- F41S. 30(2) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F42S. 31 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F43S. 32 repealed by S.I. 1964/366, Sch. 11
- F44Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)
- F45Words in s. 33(4) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F46S. 34 repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F47S. 35 repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
- F48S. 36 repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F49Words in s. 38 inserted (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/1748, reg. 8(1)(a)
- F50S. 38: definition of "enforcement officer" inserted (15.3.2004) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 63; S.I. 2004/401, art. 2(b)(iii)
- F51Definitions of “Treasury” and “county” repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49) and Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30
- F52Definition of “quarter sessions” repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)
- F53Words in s. 38 repealed (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1)(3), 110, Sch. 8 para. 63, Sch. 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)(aa)
- C18“This repeal” means repeal of enactments specified in Sch. 3 to this Act.
- F54Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)
- F55S. 39 except para. (formerly proviso) (1)(c)(d) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F56S. 39(3) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1966 (c. 5)
- F57S. 40(1) repealed by Administration of Justice Act 1977 (c. 38), Sch. 5 Pt. V
- F58S. 40(2) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group 1
- F59Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1978 (c. 45), s. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. XII
- F60Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. I
- F61Entries in Sch. 2A inserted (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1996/2009, art. 2(1)(b)
- F62Entries in Sch. 2A inserted (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1997/1992, art. 3
- F63Word in Sch. 2A inserted (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1996/2009, art. 2(1)(a)
- F64Sch. 2A inserted (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/1748, reg. 8(1)(b)
- F65Sch. 3 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)
- F66Words in Sch. 2A substituted (1.4.2009) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/837), arts. 1, 11(a)
- F67Words in Sch. 2A substituted (1.4.2009) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/837), arts. 1, 11(b)
- F68Words in Act substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 4; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)
- F69S. 20(2A) inserted (6.4.2014) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 148, Sch. 13 para. 20 (with s. 89); S.I. 2014/768, art. 2(1)(b)
- F70Words in Sch. 2A substituted (1.4.2019) by The Local Government (Structural and Boundary Changes) (Supplementary Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/615), arts. 1, 5
- F71Words in Sch. 2A inserted (1.4.2021) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) (Supplementary Provision and Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/272), arts. 1, 3
- F72Words in Sch. 2A Table inserted (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 29