Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

This section applies if—

a police officer seizes anything under this Act or a warrant; or

a protective services officer seizes a proscribed thing under section 556.

The police officer or protective services officer must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after seizing the thing—

if the person from whom it is seized is present—give or cause to be given to the person a receipt for the thing; or

if the occupier of the premises is not present—leave a receipt for the thing in a conspicuous place.

However, if a police officer reasonably suspects giving the person the receipt may frustrate or otherwise hinder the investigation or another investigation, the police officer may delay complying with subsection (2), but only for so long as—

the police officer continues to have the reasonable suspicion; and

that police officer or another police officer involved in the investigation remains in the vicinity of the place to keep it under observation.

The receipt may be for a single thing or for all things seized from the person or the place.

Also, the receipt must describe the thing seized and include any other information required under the responsibilities code.

This section does not apply if the police officer or protective services officer reasonably believes—

there is no-one apparently in possession of the thing; or

the thing has been abandoned; or

the thing has no value other than as evidence of the commission of an offence.