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Sheriff's Operations

Sheriff's Officers are responsible for actioning warrants in Victoria.

Sheriff's Operations employs 170 Sheriff's Officers who enforce sanctions against those who do not comply with court orders. In respect of non-payment of fines there are a range of options to compel people to comply. Depending on the type of warrant these include the seizure and sale of assets, licence or registration suspension or, as a final option, arrest and imprisonment.

The Sheriff is responsible for warrants for non-payment of fines, including failure to pay infringement notices for 'on-the-spot' fines registered as Infringement Court Orders, and failure to pay fines imposed by a Magistrate following an appearance in court. The Victorian Office was the first in Australia where the Sheriff assumed responsibility for enforcing criminal fines from the police force - a significant change in law enforcement procedure and from the traditional role of the Sheriff.

Enforcing criminal warrants

Sheriff's Operations actions approximately 600,000 criminal warrants each year. The majority of those actioned are issued by the Infringements Court. To action these, a Sheriff's Officer calls at the defendant's address to demand payment. If payment is not made, a seven-day notice is served. If after seven days, payment has still not been made, or the defendant has not been granted an arrangement for time to pay, the Sheriff's Officer can seize and sell assets to the value of the outstanding debt.

If there are no assets, the Sheriff can arrest the defendant. The defendant can be released on a Community Work Permit or Bailed to Appear before a Magistrate. After appearing before a Magistrate, the defendant may be imprisoned for one day for every $113 outstanding, or part thereof.

Enforcing civil warrants

All courts issue civil warrants for the enforcement of civil judgements - up to 10,000 each year - usually for debts owed by the defendant. Sheriff's Operations actions those warrants on behalf of the plaintiff to enforce judgement against a defendant, where the money due under a judgement has still not been paid. Sheriff's Officers call at the address on the warrant and make a demand for payment from the defendant. If payment is not made, they can seize assets for sale to recover the money. These may include personal property such as furniture, cars and boats, and in some cases, the defendant's interest in real estate.

For more information on how to pay fines visit the 'Fines: Fairer and Firmer' website.

Contacts
Sheriff's Operations - Civil Support Section
Ground level, 277 William St
Melbourne 3000
GPO Box 2041
Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: 03 9200 8222 (Criminal)
Tel: 03 9200 8108 (Civil)