CHILD PROTECTION ACT 1999 - SECT 178 Procedure after seizure of thing

CHILD PROTECTION ACT 1999 - SECT 178

178 Procedure after seizure of thing

(1) As soon as practicable after seizing the thing, the officer must give a receipt for it to the person from whom it was seized.

(2) If, for any reason, it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1) , the officer must—

(a) leave the receipt at the place of seizure; and

(b) ensure the receipt is left in a reasonably secure way and in a conspicuous position.

(3) The receipt must describe generally the seized thing and its condition.

(4) The officer must allow a person who would be entitled to the seized thing if it were not in the officer’s possession, at any reasonable time—

(a) to inspect it; or

(b) if it is a document—to copy it.

(5) The officer must return the seized thing to the person—

(a) at the end of 1 year; or

(b) if a prosecution for an offence involving it is started within 1 year—at the end of the prosecution and any appeal from the prosecution.

(6) Despite subsection (5) , the officer must return the seized thing to the person if the officer is satisfied its retention as evidence is no longer necessary.