Citation and commencement, etc.

1.—(1) This Act of Sederunt may be cited as the Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) (Amendment) 2024.

(2) It comes into force on 1st July 2024.

(3) A certified copy is to be inserted in the Books of Sederunt.

Amendment of the Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules 1991

2.—(1) The Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules 1991)( 2) is amended in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) In rule 3(1)(c) (qualification as officer of court)( 3), for “three” substitute “two”.

(3) In rule 4(1)(a) (qualification as messenger-at-arms), for “two years” substitute “one year”.

(4) In Schedule 1 (forms), in Form 1 (form of petition to the Court of Session for recommendation for a commission as a messenger-at-arms)—

(a) for “years”, where it first occurs, substitute “at least one year”;

(b) for “two years”, in both places where it occurs substitute “one year”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Act of Sederunt)

This Act of Sederunt amends the Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) 1991. Paragraph 2(2) amends rule 3 by reducing the period of training required for the purpose of becoming a sheriff officer from three years to two. Paragraph 2(3) amends rule 4 to reduce the period of practice as a sheriff officer required for the purpose of becoming a messenger-at-arms from two years to one. Paragraph 2(4) amends Schedule 1, Form 1 to change references to time periods to reflect the amendments made to rule 4.