Section 60: Continued retention or return of seized substances
241.This section enables a police or customs officer to apply for an order authorising the continued retention of the suspected drug-cutting agents. The order can be made by a magistrates’ court or a justice of the peace (in England and Wales), a sheriff (in Scotland) or a court of summary jurisdiction (in Northern Ireland). The court, justice or sheriff may make such an order if satisfied that continued retention of the substance is justified whilst its intended use is further investigated. An order can also be made for continued retention if consideration is being given to the bringing of criminal proceedings, or if such proceedings have been commenced and not concluded. Where criminal proceedings have been initiated an order may authorise continued retention until the conclusion of the proceedings, otherwise the maximum period of retention is 60 days (this includes the initial 30 day period provided for in section 59).
242.Where the court, justice or sheriff concludes that none of the grounds for continued retention of the substance have been satisfied, the substance must be returned to the person from whom it was seized or, if different, the owner. Where an order is made under this section and no person entitled to the substance was present or represented at the hearing then the responsible officer must make reasonable efforts to give written notice to the person from whom the substance was seized and, if the officer thinks that it may belong to a different person, to that person also. This is to ensure that all persons with an interest in the substance are properly informed.