Criminal proceedings
25Forfeiture in case of conviction
1
This section applies if a person is convicted of an offence under this Act.
2
The court by or before which the person is convicted may order that anything that is shown to the court's satisfaction to relate to the offence is to be—
a
forfeited, and
b
destroyed, or otherwise dealt with, in the manner specified in the order.
3
The court may order under subsection (2) that the forfeited item is to be dealt with as the Secretary of State sees fit.
4
If the court so orders, the powers of the Secretary of State include—
a
the power to direct the destruction of the forfeited item, and
b
the power to secure the disposal of the forfeited item in any other way that appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.
5
Subsection (6) applies where—
a
the court proposes to order under subsection (2) that a thing be forfeited, and
b
a person claiming to have an interest in it applies to be heard by the court.
6
The court must not make the order unless the person has been given an opportunity to show why it should not be made.