Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

Despite any other provision of this part, a police officer exercising powers under part 1 may dispose of something other than a vehicle when and in the way the police officer considers appropriate if—

the police officer reasonably suspects the thing has been abandoned; or

the proceeds of any sale of the thing are unlikely to cover—

the moving expenses for the thing; and

the expenses likely to be incurred by the chief executive in selling the thing; or

it is otherwise impracticable to retain the removed thing.

In this section—something other than a vehicle—

includes anything, including the load of a vehicle, that has become separated from the vehicle during the exercise of powers under this chapter; and

does not include a vehicle’s load to the extent it has remained with the vehicle during the exercise of powers under this chapter.