Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

[poppy79]

Hi

I live in a house that was my grandmother's and forms part of her estate (grandfather was already deceased).

My lodger was arrested for quite a serious offence. My first knowledge of this was when the police raided the house with a search warrant and arrested him. They took me to a police station and questioned me. They spent 2 days searching the house and I was not able to return until this had been completed. I had no knowledge of his offence though was asked to be a witness if needed. He has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence.

When the police searched the house they took several of my own items i.e. laptop and x-box etc. At a second intervie the police said they had found a large amount of money in a shed in the garden and after enquiries were satisfied that it belonged to my grandparents. We had not got round to looking through the shed after my grandmothers death before the police raid and my grandfather was inclined to hide cash as he only ever used cash and did not keep much money in the bank. We found cash stashed in various parts of the house and had no idea there was any in the shed.

My question is should the police return the cash when they release the rest of my belongings? As this forms part of the estate would the executors have to request the return? They never told me how much money was found.


,

[CleverClogs]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Did your late grandfather launder money for the Yorkshire Mafia?

(AASQGASA msl

[bluebottle]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Hi Poppy,

The answer to your questions is yes, the police must return all property belonging to anyone not connected with a crime, unless the property forms part of the evidence. In your case, your personal property must be returned in a timely manner, if the police have no lawful reason to retain it. Other than that, the police must seek direction from a judge as to what to do with any property.

As for the money found, yes, the executors would need to request the money be returned as they are responsible for administering your grandparent's estate. This should be done in writing and a signature obtained from the police on receipt of the letter. The letter should be addressed to the Force HQ.

[Inca]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Poppy79,,,glad I'm not the only one whose relatives hid money all over the place,,my late father and mother in law did too..........loads of places and 45kilos of sugar in a wardrobe

[Salmon Man]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

You don't mention what crime was committed but it may well end up with the authorities pursuing the cash under Proceeds of Crime especially as it appears that you knew nothing about the existence of the cash.

To say that the Police MUST return this cash seems a tad over confident with the information we have been given.

Quite frankly, I find it suspicious that anyone (older who don't trust/like using banks) hides large amounts of cash in insecure places such as an outdoor shed. More likely to have been hidden in the house.

I suspect there's more to the money in the shed.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

I suspect there's more to the money in the shed.

Such as the drugs cache under the floorboards and the crystal meth lab under the potting bench?

[Salmon Man]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Such as the drugs cache under the floorboards and the crystal meth lab under the potting bench?

Just about sums it up for me.

[Inca]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Whilst I can understand the cynicism..it does happen. I'm sure the money will be forensically tested to ensure it has no connection to the arrested person

[CleverClogs]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

I'm sure the money will be forensically tested to ensure it has no connection to the arrested person

That's simple enough - just mist the notes with ninhydrin (link) in acetone to develop the fingerprints.

[Salmon Man]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Whilst I can understand the cynicism..it does happen. I'm sure the money will be forensically tested to ensure it has no connection to the arrested person

It will not matter, the Police have had enough to gain a search warrant to the property, and the home owner cannot account for the cash, and unless they can account for the cash and prove it did not come from the proceeds of crime then it's going to be a difficult one to ever see that cash.

[MissFM]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Hi

I live in a house that was my grandmother's and forms part of her estate (grandfather was already deceased).

My lodger was arrested for quite a serious offence. My first knowledge of this was when the police raided the house with a search warrant and arrested him. They took me to a police station and questioned me. They spent 2 days searching the house and I was not able to return until this had been completed. I had no knowledge of his offence though was asked to be a witness if needed. He has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence.

When the police searched the house they took several of my own items i.e. laptop and x-box etc. At a second intervie the police said they had found a large amount of money in a shed in the garden and after enquiries were satisfied that it belonged to my grandparents. We had not got round to looking through the shed after my grandmothers death before the police raid and my grandfather was inclined to hide cash as he only ever used cash and did not keep much money in the bank. We found cash stashed in various parts of the house and had no idea there was any in the shed.

My question is should the police return the cash when they release the rest of my belongings? As this forms part of the estate would the executors have to request the return? They never told me how much money was found.


,

????

[CleverClogs]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Grandmother knew Ken Dodd? :rofl:

[Salmon Man]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

Or Harry Redkapp's dog.

[poppy79]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

The offence had nothing to do with drugs or stolen property, the money had been there a long time as it was in notes no longer in circulation and the age of the envelopes it was found in which is what satisfied the police it was nothing to do with the case.

My grandfather did not trust banks, and no one in the family including my grandmother knew or suspected he had hidden money in the shed. It was secured with several locks and had an alarm system. We had not been able to find the keys after his death which was very sudden. They had only been found 2-3 months before the police search when we took down some old cupboards.

The money was from the sale of a house he inherited a year or two before his death. We had always thought there should have been more money but had assumed he had spent it.

[Inca]

Re: Do the Police have to return Cash found during a search?

No such thing as 'eccentricity' then? People do the strangest things.