Courts Act 2003

55 Powers to retain articles surrendered or seized

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a court security officer may retain an article which was—

(a) surrendered in response to a request under section 54(1), or

(b) seized under section 54(2),

until the time when the person who surrendered it, or from whom it was seized, is leaving the court building.

(2) If a court security officer reasonably believes that the article may be evidence of, or in relation to, an offence, he may retain it until—

(a) the time when the person who surrendered it, or from whom it was seized, is leaving the court building, or

(b) the end of the permitted period,

whichever is later.

(3) “The permitted period” means such period, not exceeding 24 hours from the time the article was surrendered or seized, as will enable the court security officer to draw the article to the attention of a constable.