Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

Property seized by a police officer may be claimed by—

the owner of the property or a person acting for the owner; or

the person from whose possession the property was seized or someone acting for the person.

The claim may be made only during stated hours on a business day after the end of the noise abatement period, as defined under section 582(5), for the place where the property is found.

A police officer must not give seized property to a person claiming it unless the police officer is satisfied the claimant is—

the owner of the property or the person from whose possession the property was seized; or

a person acting for a person mentioned in paragraph (a).

Nothing in this section prevents a police officer retaining seized property if the police officer reasonably suspects the property is evidence of the commission of an offence.