Subject to Article 2, where property has come into the possession of a police officer, and the owner of the property cannot be ascertained or found, the property may be disposed of by sale by auction or otherwise, as follows –

(a) where the property is a perishable article, or its custody involves unreasonable expense or inconvenience, it may be sold at any time, but the proceeds of sale shall remain in the possession of the Force for 3 months from the date of sale;

(b) in the case of any other property (other than money) such property shall be sold as soon as may be after it has been in the possession of the Force for 3 months;

(c) where the property consists of money it shall be dealt with under Article 4 as if it were the proceeds of a sale, after it has remained in the possession of the Force for 3 months.

2 Action following conviction

Where a person has been convicted of an offence in connection with any property which has come into the possession of a police officer, no action, other than the sale of perishable goods, shall be taken under Article 1 until the expiration of at least 3 months from the date of conviction, or, where notice of appeal has been given, 3 months after the date of hearing, or abandonment, of the appeal, as the case may be.

3 Compensation

The Chief Officer may pay to any person by whom property has been delivered to the Force such reasonable compensation as the Chief Officer thinks fit.

4 Proceeds of Sale

After the deduction of any expenses incurred in connection with –

(a) the sale or storage of property;

(b) advertising for the owner of the property;

the proceeds of the sale of any property shall be credited to the annual income of the States.

5 Citation

This Order may be cited as the States of Jersey Police Force (Disposal of Property) (Jersey) Order 2016.

Endnotes

Table of Legislation History