HISTORIC SHIPWRECKS ACT 1981 - SECT 24
HISTORIC SHIPWRECKS ACT 1981 - SECT 24
(1) If an inspector
has reason to suspect that any vehicle, vessel, equipment or other thing has
been used in, is otherwise involved in, or affords evidence of, the commission
of an offence against this Act, the inspector may seize and retain the
vehicle, vessel, equipment or other thing—
(a)
until the expiry of a period of 60 days after the seizure; or
(b) if a
prosecution for an offence against this Act is commenced and the vehicle,
vessel, equipment or other thing may have been used in, been otherwise
involved in, or afford evidence of, the commission of the alleged
offence—until the prosecution is terminated.
(2) The Minister may
authorise any vehicle, vessel, equipment or other thing seized under
subsection (1) to be released to its owner, or to the person from whose
possession it was seized, either unconditionally or on such conditions as the
Minister thinks fit, including conditions as to the giving of security for
payment of its value if it is forfeited.
(3) If a court
convicts a person of an offence against this Act, the court may order the
forfeiture to the Crown of any vehicle, vessel, equipment or other thing used
or otherwise involved in the commission of the offence.
(4) Any vehicle,
vessel, equipment or other thing forfeited under this section may be sold or
otherwise dealt with as the Minister thinks fit.
(5) A reference in
this section to a thing involved in the commission of an offence includes a
reference to any historic shipwreck, or part of a historic shipwreck or any
historic relic, to which the offence relates.