Retention and disposal or return of items

29Retention of seized items

1

An item seized under section 21 or 23 may be retained for as long as is necessary in all the circumstances and in particular—

a

for use as evidence at a trial for a relevant offence, or

b

for forensic examination or for investigation in connection with a relevant offence.

2

An item may be not be retained for either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) if a photograph or a copy would be sufficient for that purpose.