Confiscated equipment never returned
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Hi, I really need to get this off my chest and see whether my local Police "service" are unique in how they dealt with me and my belongings.
After the knock and arrest, the Police spent 4 hours going through my 4 bed home in front of my children. They took every single piece of electronic equipment. The ex used an iPad, phone and laptop to commit the crimes. These were the items the Police sent off for analysis and they were the only items the Judge ordered to be destroyed. They also took all my son's electronics including a new pc he bought with his Christmas money, cameras and gaming equipment. I was told on the day of the arrest that I would get it all back. Then I received a letter from them. It said that if I wanted my equipment back, I would need to pay the outsourcing company £70 per hour (7 years ago) to go through each item to make sure there was nothing illegal on them and only then would I get it back. This was going to cost thousands of pounds! So I lost all of it including my family photos which were on the family pc but not backed up. I begged them for the photos but they weren't interested. A few years later I got in touch with the officer in charge to ask what happened to all my equipment. I was told that it got broken down for the Police to use as parts! I'm still so so angry about this. It's so unfair and just adds insult to injury. They literally couldn't have cared less. I've never been able to replace all my sons belongings. It's cost so much. I can't say which Police force this was on here but it was in the South East. Did anyone else have to deal with this or is my Police force unique? X
After the knock and arrest, the Police spent 4 hours going through my 4 bed home in front of my children. They took every single piece of electronic equipment. The ex used an iPad, phone and laptop to commit the crimes. These were the items the Police sent off for analysis and they were the only items the Judge ordered to be destroyed. They also took all my son's electronics including a new pc he bought with his Christmas money, cameras and gaming equipment. I was told on the day of the arrest that I would get it all back. Then I received a letter from them. It said that if I wanted my equipment back, I would need to pay the outsourcing company £70 per hour (7 years ago) to go through each item to make sure there was nothing illegal on them and only then would I get it back. This was going to cost thousands of pounds! So I lost all of it including my family photos which were on the family pc but not backed up. I begged them for the photos but they weren't interested. A few years later I got in touch with the officer in charge to ask what happened to all my equipment. I was told that it got broken down for the Police to use as parts! I'm still so so angry about this. It's so unfair and just adds insult to injury. They literally couldn't have cared less. I've never been able to replace all my sons belongings. It's cost so much. I can't say which Police force this was on here but it was in the South East. Did anyone else have to deal with this or is my Police force unique? X
That is shocking! My person had all equipment returned but I'm not sure if his ex got her items back. As it was collection from the station.
Not heard of being charged a cost before. My person I think had to pay for some files on devices to be destroyed to recover family photos. This was managed but the police asked for specific file paths and my person could not remember them all correctly so not all were recovered.
It was only when he asked for these file was it explained it was possible, they never offered up front.
I wonder if you could get some financial compensation as it was your property and no warning it was going to be broken down for parts!
Not heard of being charged a cost before. My person I think had to pay for some files on devices to be destroyed to recover family photos. This was managed but the police asked for specific file paths and my person could not remember them all correctly so not all were recovered.
It was only when he asked for these file was it explained it was possible, they never offered up front.
I wonder if you could get some financial compensation as it was your property and no warning it was going to be broken down for parts!
In our case only his internet enabled devices were taken, and despite all but one was being 'guilty', and ordered to be destroyed, remaining items were never returned. He had chased so many times. No replies. Ever.
That is shocking! My OH had all his stuff returned, he just had to go to the local police station and pick them up himself. Nothing was found on any of his equipment so I don't know if that makes a difference. Can you not submit a retrospective complaint? X
I'm going to make an appointment with my MP. I've met her before and she's a Lib Dem MP and seems very supportive when I've emailed her about other matters. I can't let this lie. It's an appalling way to treat someone who has done nothing wrong.
Reading online it suggests that if the police fail to return seized property without good reason you can bring a civil case against the police under the Police Property Act 1897 to make them return it. Though I appreciate this is not helpful to the OP as the property has already been destroyed, I'm unsure if the court can order the police to compensate you financially under the above act.
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How would I go about starting the ball rolling? I can't afford a solicitor and wouldn't get legal aid for this. Thanks for the info.
How would I go about starting the ball rolling? I can't afford a solicitor and wouldn't get legal aid for this. Thanks for the info.
I'm sorry but I don't know how you would go about initiating this, without being able to consult a solicitor I'm not sure trying to obtain compensation is even fesible, as I said above the information I read related to the court ordering the return of seized property, it didn't mention anything about financial compensation for items that have already been disposed off.
At a guess it could be similar to bring a claim for compensation in the small claims court, that is pure speculation however. You could try speaking to Unlock (which i think was where I saw the info about the Police Property Act), Citizens Advice or seeing if any local solicitors offer a free inital discusion.
At a guess it could be similar to bring a claim for compensation in the small claims court, that is pure speculation however. You could try speaking to Unlock (which i think was where I saw the info about the Police Property Act), Citizens Advice or seeing if any local solicitors offer a free inital discusion.
I'm going to get an appointment with my MP and go from there. I doubt there's anything I can do but I'm determined to raise awareness of how we, as the "secondary " victims are treated.