How to complain about a sheriff officer

You can complain about a sheriff officer if you think they:

• behaved in an unreasonable way
• did things they do not have the power to do

You can complain about a sheriff officer in 3 different ways. You can either complain to the:

• Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO)
• company the sheriff officers works for 
• Sheriff Principal through your local sheriff court

1. Complain to SMASO

The Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO) covers the whole of Scotland.

You need to complain in writing.

The address is:

SMASO
Forth House
28 Rutland Square
Edinburgh

Phone: 0131 292 0321

Email: admin@smaso.ednet.co.uk

Read more about the complaints process on the SMASO website.

2. Complain to the company the sheriff officer works for

Sheriff officers work on behalf of the court but are employed by private companies.

You can find out which company they work for by:

• asking the sheriff officer
• checking any letters from the sheriff officer

Contact the company to ask them how to make a complaint.

3. Complain to the Sheriff Principal 

You need to complain to the Sheriff Principal in writing. 

You can contact the Sheriff Principal through your local sheriff court.

Sheriff officers' code of practice 

You can read more about sheriff officers' code of practice on the SMASO website.