How long can the police keep my property ?

[mikesw15]

Hi, my son was arrested nearly 4 months, when the police come into our house they seized his phone and laptop and my wife's laptop and ipad, he is due to be sentenced at the end of the month so the police have no reason to keep our stuff as he has pleaded guilty, does anyone know the process of getting our stuff back please ?

[seduraed]

Re: How long can the police keep my property ?

Have you rung them and asked particularly if the i phone and laptop belong to your wife?

[Blue Knight]

Re: How long can the police keep my property ?

Hi Mike,
If the items don't form part of the case they should be returned as soon as possible, but you will need to ask, popping into the local nick front office usually gets a better result than a phone call which often goes unanswered or misdirected.
If the items are part of the case, then given the guilty plea and no possibility of appeal they would still be returnable, but may need CPS/COPFS permission rather than just the Police saying it's ok.
Again a visit to the local station is probably your best bet in the first instance

[austin75]

Re: How long can the police keep my property ?

You should ask about your belongings and they cannot keep your laptop ,Iphone for any reason after the case is finished.