 This involved councils applying for a warrant from the local court to collect the money owed by non-payers.Sheriff officers (private companies, even though their title suggests they are court employees) were the choice of the local authorities to collect the outstanding debts.Under the 1987 act, the debt collectors were permitted to enter a debtor's home and poind (put a value on) items, which would be subject to a later, public, sale under warrant (warrant sale).