# Protection of Children Act 1978, Paragraph 16


(1) This paragraph applies where any property is required to be returned to a person under this Schedule.
(2) If—
(a) the property is (without having been returned) still in the custody of the relevant officer after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the requirement to return it arose, and
(b) it is not practicable to dispose of it by returning it immediately to the person to whom it is required to be returned,
the relevant officer may dispose of it in any manner he thinks fit.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/37/schedule/paragraph/16 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978/schedule/paragraph-16
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.