Lensmann

Sheriff was in Norway the name of a subordinate officials in rural areas. His task was the collection of public taxes substantially. The word ' Len ' comes from Len = receiving public release within a Lens = Syssels, so a district. The Office has been known since the 13th century.

There were many complaints about the occurrence of the Lens men in the population, in 1280 was determined that only two men were allowed Lens operate in each Fylke. This provision, however, has apparently not enforced. 1293 was then determined that Lens Men should only be distinguished farmers from a good family.

After the union with Denmark in the late Middle Ages, the office was upgraded. He was executive officer in the Bailiwick. He was also called " peasant sheriff " to avoid confusion with the owner of a fief. He got into an intermediate position as an official of the bailiff on the one hand and confidant of the peasants on the other. As the administrative districts were smaller, the country received many Lens Men. The sheriff had no fixed salary. His income consisted of a portion of the collected fines and confiscated the assets.

With the introduction of Walt Built in 1662 the sheriff was hired by the bailiff, and received a small salary. The Office became a central position in the peasant society. In the Imperial Assembly of Eidsvoll sat five men Lens. In advising on the law on local administration of 1837 required that the lens men were employed by the local elected board of directors. This trend persisted because of the resistance of the civil service not through, but in the sheriff law from 1884 has been determined that the bailiff the employment law indeed retained, but select one of the proposals of the local authority had.

In the 20th century was the sheriff primarily policeman and enforcement officials.

With the police reform of 1994, the sheriff was incorporated in the police district by being subordinated to the chief of police. Today there is no longer any difference between police officers and Lens men.