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What happens to devices

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Tulip23

Member since
September 2025

15 posts

My granddaughter's little i pad was taken when my son in law was arrested on 30th July along with all his own devices.

It's now 4 weeks since he was sentenced and away from the family home forever as they're now getting divorced. My daughter is struggling to get answers as to when the tablet will be returned.

Surely they wouldn't need to keep it as they're going on holiday soon and wanted it for the plane etc.



Has anyone had similar experience ?

Posted Wed October 15, 2025 9:23amReport post

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

1298 posts

Hi,

my laptop was taken and I found our post sentencing that the police had incorrectly listed it as his so he had to go and collect it for me. I was given a number by the oic to call and arrange collection from a local police station and it was when I called they told me it was in his name so he had to be the one to collect it. I'd try the oic as a first point, they should be able to provide your daughter with a number to arrange collection. If it has to be her ex who collects it and they don't communicate then maybe she could ask a third party to contact him regarding it xxx

Posted Wed October 15, 2025 9:41amReport post

AnxiousGirl

Member since
December 2023

313 posts

They took my laptop and my son's gaming computer along with SD cards from my camera - but strangely not my external hard drive. Didn't get them back until I emailed asking for them when he was sent to prison. My son had to borrow money to buy himself a new pc.

Posted Wed October 15, 2025 11:58amReport post

26a20

Member since
December 2024

241 posts

As other have said first port of call would be to email the OIC to ask for them to be returned, if this fails I would then escalate to the official complaints procedure.

From my reading of PACE the police can only hold onto seized devices for as long as they remain relevant to the investigation, as the investigation and court case is now over I would suggest they have no legal basis to remain in possession of any devices which the court have not ordered to be forfeited i.e. those devices used to commit the offence.

I recall reading of a case where a person was struggling to get their seized property back even though there was no reason for the police to be keeping it so they simply called the police and reported it as stolen. Funnily enough it was returned quickly after that.

Posted Wed October 15, 2025 4:04pmReport post

Tulip23

Member since
September 2025

15 posts

Thanks for all your comments. I'll pass these onto my daughter.

Posted Wed October 15, 2025 5:26pmReport post

Quick exit