How Police Deal With Found Property
West Yorkshire Police will follow national changes and stop accepting and recording some found property.
Found property are items found by members of the public and are handed to the police.
Police will accept the items below:
- Mobile telephones
- High value jewellery and possessions
- MP3 Players
- Cash
- Computers
- Firearms/Shotguns, ammunition, explosives, chemicals, toxins, drugs or poisons or anything dangerous must be reported to a member of staff immediately
Police will accept the below but ask that people go first to the relevant agency ie. Bank company/DVLA/passport office.
- Bank Card, Identity Cards, Personal documentation
- Birth marriage and death certificates
- British Passports, foreign passports, driving licences and other identity documents
- UK driving licences
Police will not accept:
- Bicycles
- Empty handbags, bags, wallets and purses
- Cases
- Clothing
- Perishable goods
- Animals
- Rubbish/Waste
- Umbrellas
- Keys
- Spectacles
- Watches (except if capable of containing personal data)
- Jewellery
David Peach the Force Helpdesk Manager for West Yorkshire Police said:
‘From not accepting low value property such as handbags, wallets, clothing and perishable goods it will save police officers and staff hours of time, experience shows that these type of items are rarely repatriated with the owner.
‘The changes have come from the National Police Chiefs Council and all Police forces are following the same guidelines.
‘If you have any questions the force has a dedicated webpage answering any questions members of the public have.’
Visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/advice/lost-and-found for more information.
