The History & Role of the High Sheriff

History of the role

With the exception of the Monarchy ( which took a brief break during Oliver Cromwell’s time ), the role of the High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the country and the only one that survives from Saxon times. In 669, King Egbert of Kent sent his personal Reeve to Paris to escort the new Archbishop to Canterbury. Similarly, King Ine of Wessex ( 688-695 ), provided in his laws for a “Scir Man” to resolve disputes.

The word Sheriff is derived from Shire-Reeve, and since the 10th Century, a Sheriff has been appointed to each County in England and Wales.

The role of the Sheriff evolved to be the principal representative of, and agent for the Crown. The powers included law enforcement, raising the “hue and cry” in pursuit of felons, judging cases in the “Court of the Hundred”, collection of taxes and levies and responsibility for Crown properties in the Shire. It was a role that survived the arrival of William the Conqueror in 1066 and indeed, the Sheriff’s role was key to the early development of the English justice system. As evidence of the Sheriff’s importance in these times, the Magna Carta of 1215 contained 63 clauses, of which 27 related to the role of the Sheriff. From 1254, the Sheriff supervised the election to Parliament of two Knights of the Shire.

A gradual erosion of powers arose over time with the establishment of an Exchequer to handle tax collection and the introduction during Tudor times of the role of a Lord-Lieutenant to take on military matters and to be a personal representative of the Sovereign. In 1856 and 1865, the Sheriff’s powers concerning police and prisons passed to the Prison Commissioners and local Constabulary. Finally, in 1883, the care of Crown property was transferred to Crown Commissioners.

Today, the role is largely ceremonial, but the High Sheriff is the Sovereign’s representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.

Appointment of the High Sheriff

The office of High Sheriff is a single year Royal appointment, which is voluntary, unfunded and non political. There is a High Sheriff appointed to each of the counties of England and Wales.

Appointment panels exist in each county to identify “suitably experienced and public-spirited individuals” to take on the role of High Sheriff. In November each year, three names from each County are read out by the King’s Remembrancer in the Royal Courts of Justice before the Lady Chief Justice, a Lord Justice of Appeal and two High Court Judges. In March, the roll of High Sheriffs in Nomination is submitted to the King who “pricks” the High Sheriff for the ensuing year.

The Tudors are believed to have originated the practice that continues to this day of the Sovereign “pricking” a name on the Sheriffs’ roll with a bodkin. An ink mark could be erased, but pricking a hole through the vellum was deemed to be permanent.

The role of High Sheriff is a direct appointment of the Sovereign by Royal Warrant and the appointed nominee takes office by making a statutory declaration of fidelity.

Roles and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the High Sheriff during their shrieval year are as follows:

To lend active support to the principal organs of the Constitution within their county – the Royal Family, the Judiciary, the Police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities and church and faith groups
To take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to the voluntary organisations with a County, particularly those involved with crime reduction and social cohesion
To ensure the welfare of visiting High Court Judges, to attend on them at Court and to offer them hospitality where appropriate
To make a meaningful contribution to the High Sheriff’s County during their year of Office and to uphold and embrace the ancient Office of High Sheriff
To support the Lord-Lieutenant on royal visits and on other occasions as appropriate

The High Sheriff’s badge

The Royal Crown is incorporated in the High Sheriffs badge by the Royal Licence granted in 1991. The ermine border around the base of the Crown symbolises the judiciary. The Shrievalty Association of England and Wales is one of few institutions that are licensed to use the Royal Crown in this way.

The swords are in saltire ( crossed as an X shape ) with the blunt sword representing Mercy and the sharp sword representing Justice. The Tudor roses symbolise England and the crossed leeks represent Wales. The wreath of gold oak leaves represent the national tree of England.

Court Dress of England

The court dress remains largely unchanged since the early 19th century, when Queen Victoria called for a new design. It consists of a black or dark blue velvet coat with steel-cut buttons, breeches, and shoes with cuted stell buckles. A lace jabot is worn around the neck.

The Sword

The High Sheriff’s sword symbolises the King’s justice and may also be called upon to protect His Majesty’s Judges in case of need!

The County of the West Midlands

The County of West Midlands came into existence in 1974, following the Local Government Act of 1972. The areas within the West Midlands were formerly part of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. It is home to around 3 million people, making it the second most populous county in England.

For local government purposes, the West Midlands comprises seven metropolitan boroughs : Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton

The West Midlands is one of the youngest and most diverse counties in the United Kingdom. People 15 and under represent more than 21% of the population, with the working age population being a further 63%

In 2023, the West Midlands was reported as the “happiest” of the 8 Metropolitan counties in England

The Justice System

The West Midlands currently has 9 Courts, a number of which are Combined Court Centres, in which there are approximately 100 Judges sitting.
West Midlands Police has responsibility for policing across the whole County and is the second largest police force in the country with approximately 8,000 officers and a further 4,500 staff
The County of the West Midlands is part of the wider West Midlands regional Probation Service
There is currently one prison operating within the County of the West Midlands.