police lost property scam....beware

kreid

we found a digi camera recently and handed in to the police. Now after a time you can claim it if the orig "loser" doesn't claim it. BUT we were told that because of the "digital memory" we couldn't claim it back, same goes for mobiles etc......will they end up in the police lost and found sale/auction? Or is there a huge pile of such items no one can use/ claim?
Moreover, this camera has a digital card. Surely they can just remove this card, we could claim the camera and buy a new card? Wondered if anyone knew the legal situation here. If the camera is claimed by its orig owner , thats fine, if not I would gladly have it! Thanks in advance, keith.

superscaper

Not heard of that before at first read of the post I was kind of glad the police are taking digital anti fraud measures seriously, although thinking about it I can't see why there would be anything on "digital memory" you wouldn't be allowed to have. If there were personal details recoverable then surely that's exactly what the police would be happy to find themselves in order to identify the owner? I've not heard about any recent changes to found property laws, so my first guess is that they're fobbing you off. I can't think of a single reason for them not to give it to you that wouldn't also be a good enough justification in them locating the original owner.

superscaper

ts_aly2000 wrote: »

Anyone with any sense would UV write their postcode and house name/number on an item of value that had the possibility of being lost.

Something I should probably get around to doing myself, although I'm in process of cataloging all my serial numbers etc for all my property. May be useful for replacing stuff if anything catastrophic happened to have a database of everything I own. I thought, what if I was burgled or my house burned down, how much stuff would I remember actually having? That question to myself was what motivated me to start making an inventory of everything. Even something like books, may seem a minor thing to worry about but when you have hundreds then the value of replacement sure does add up.

System

so you are complaining because you are unable to profit from someones misfortune ! a few years ago i found a purse does that mean the credit cards /cash should have been mine ? i think not.

kreid

well, if someone is going to profit from it it might as well be the finder who honestly handed it in. As i said (if you'd read my post properly) the best outcome would be that the orig owner were traced...........but if not i don't want it sold off in a police auction! How could it be , if its illegal to pass it on because of digital memory??? I wonder.
Anti fraud yes i can understand that but you /they could just remove the memory card surely?

Iamthesmartestmanalive

kreid wrote: »

we found a digi camera recently and handed in to the police. Now after a time you can claim it if the orig "loser" doesn't claim it. BUT we were told that because of the "digital memory" we couldn't claim it back, same goes for mobiles etc......will they end up in the police lost and found sale/auction? Or is there a huge pile of such items no one can use/ claim?
Moreover, this camera has a digital card. Surely they can just remove this card, we could claim the camera and buy a new card? Wondered if anyone knew the legal situation here. If the camera is claimed by its orig owner , thats fine, if not I would gladly have it! Thanks in advance, keith.

Its not a scam
Theres nothing to say they will be auctioned at police benefit as you try to claim later
Data protection etc means they cant give items like this to third parties.

Id imagine they are kept for a while and if not claimed destroyed or sold to someone in the industry with a contract they must be wiped completely before reuse - something they couldnt do with a member of the public with any sort of confidence it would be done

superscaper

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

Data protection etc means they cant give items like this to third parties.

What data is there to protect? If there was anything that would actually come under the Data Protection Act then by definition that's enough data to find the original owner (the only data protected is that which can be used to identify a living person). The only way the police could use the data protection act in this case is if they already knew that there was personal identifiable information on the device, in which case why not give it back to its original owner? Besides if as the OP says it's a removable card then there's still no reason not to give just the camera back as then there'd be no data at all.

Iamthesmartestmanalive

superscaper wrote: »

What data is there to protect? If there was anything that would actually come under the Data Protection Act then by definition that's enough data to find the original owner (the only data protected is that which can be used to identify a living person). The only way the police could use the data protection act in this case is if they already knew that there was personal identifiable information on the device, in which case why not give it back to its original owner? Besides if as the OP says it's a removable card then there's still no reason not to give just the camera back as then there'd be no data at all.

The information may not be enough to the police or it may not be feasible to find the owner with it but it may be enough to someone else

What if their pics for example? the police might not know the owner but it could get into someone elses hand

At the end of the day the OP has no case for a grievance, why should people benefit from others misfortune? to cry because he wont be is rather poor taste

I fully defend the police here

If my phone or camera was lost I wouldnt want someone else being given it if they couldnt locate me

superscaper

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

At the end of the day the OP has no case for a grievance, why should people benefit from others misfortune? to cry because he wont be is rather poor taste

Not really the OP's question, they didn't ask about your ethical view on the matter, just purely about the procedures. That still doesn't explain the removable card though. It will end up going to a police auction (with memory card) anyway so the whole "data protection" justification doesn't really hold up. They don't even claim to check the digital cameras they auction off. They just "sell as seen".

System

but_if_not_i_don't_want_it_sold_off_in_a_police_auction!_ wrote:

curiously why does what YOU want even enter into the proceedings ?

superscaper

CHRISSYG wrote: »

but_if_not_i_don't_want_it_sold_off_in_a_police_auction!_ wrote:

curiously why does what YOU want even enter into the proceedings ?

Because it's the OP's thread It may not affect the outcome, but how is trying to pick apart the OP enter into the proceedings either or be a constructive way to respond? Personally I would just hand it in and forget about it but the thread wasn't started about whether you think the OP is morally justified. I'd also like to know what possible legitimate reason the police have for circumventing their own rules and procedured out of principle.