§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to whom high sheriffs and under-sheriffs are accountable; and what are the procedures for an individual citizen to pursue a claim against an under-sheriff whom he believes to have acted in an oppressive manner.
Mr. John M. TaylorA complaint about a sheriff s officer should, in the first instance, be made to the under-sheriff. If the matter is to be taken further, a complaint should go to the high sheriff. High sheriffs are appointed annually by Her Majesty the Queen and are independent of Government.
In addition, complaints can be made to the Under-Sheriffs Association. and the Sheriffs Officers Association. Although the associations have no statutory authority to act on their findings or to punish an offending member, together the two associations are able to investigate and resolve justified grievances. There is no professional requirement for appointment as an under-sheriff, but in practice all are solicitors and a complaint can also be addressed to the Law Society.
The final recourse for a person who wishes to pursue a grievance is to issue legal proceedings against the high sheriff. The high sheriff would be in a position to issue a third party notice to the sheriffs officer.