Shirriffs

The Shirriffs were the Shire's nearest equivalent to a police force, though in the halcyon days before the War of the Ring their role was so minimal as to be almost unrecognisable as such. The name itself was a hobbit-word, and their organisation reflected the Shire's deep-seated preference for self-governance and its distrust of formal authority.

Nature and Structure

In the time of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the Shirriffs were a remarkably small and informal body. There were only twelve in all the Shire, three for each Farthing, designated for 'Inside Work'. These twelve were not uniformed—such things were quite unknown—and their only badge of office was a feather in their caps. In practice, they were more haywards than policemen, more concerned with the strayings of beasts than of people. A rather larger body, varying at need, was employed to 'beat the bounds' and to see that Outsiders of any kind, great or small, did not make themselves a nuisance. These were called the Bounders. The only real official in the Shire at this date was the Mayor of Michel Delving, who was elected every seven years at the Free Fair. The offices of Postmaster and First Shirriff were attached to the mayoralty, so that he managed both the Messenger Service and the Watch. These were the only Shire-services, and the Messengers were the most numerous, and much the busier of the two.

The Shadow Lengthens and the Shirriffs are Perverted

At the time when the story begins, the Bounders had been greatly increased. There were many reports and complaints of strange persons and creatures prowling about the borders, or over them: the first sign that all was not quite as it should be. This was a necessary response to the growing threat from Mordor and the activities of Saruman's agents. However, the true corruption of the Shirriffs came with the rise of Lotho Sackville-Baggins, who styled himself 'the Chief'. Under his rule, and that of his master Saruman (known as 'Sharkey'), the Shirriffs were transformed from a benign, almost ceremonial body into an instrument of tyranny. Their numbers were swollen to hundreds, and they were forced into service against their will. New rules were imposed, and the Shirriffs were tasked with enforcing them, arresting those who stood up for their rights, and dragging them off to the Lockholes. They were also used as spies, with a special Quick Post service of runners to carry secret messages. The Shirriffs became a tool of oppression, their original purpose entirely subverted.

The Revolt and Restoration

When Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin returned to the Shire, they found the Shirriffs transformed into a cowed and unwilling police force. At Frogmorton, a band of Shirriffs attempted to arrest the Travellers for gate-breaking and other invented crimes, but they were easily overawed. As the Travellers roused the Shire-folk, the Shirriffs were faced with a choice. When Merry blew the Horn-call of Buckland, the people of Bywater rose up, and the Shirriffs, seeing how things were, most of them took off their feathers and joined the revolt. The few that remained loyal slunk away. After the Battle of Bywater and the death of Saruman, the old order was restored. Frodo, acting as Deputy Mayor, reduced the Shirriffs to their proper functions and numbers, effectively dismantling the oppressive apparatus that had been built up. The Shirriffs returned to their original, humble role as the Shire's gentle guardians of peace and order.