{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978/schedule/paragraph-9",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978/schedule/paragraph-9.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/37",
  "legislation_title": "Protection of Children Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978",
  "path": "schedule/paragraph/9",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "9",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) This paragraph applies if, in a case in which a notice of claim has been given, the relevant officer decides—\n(a) not to take proceedings for condemnation of the property, or\n(b) not to take proceedings for condemnation of a part of the property.\n(2) The relevant officer must return the property or part to the person who appears to him to have a legitimate reason for possessing the property or, if there is more than one such person, to one of those persons.\n(3) Any property required to be returned in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) must be returned as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision not to take proceedings for condemnation.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. inserted (1.4.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 39(45), 53(1), Sch. 11; S.I. 2008/790, art. 2(c)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/37/schedule/paragraph/9",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:21:48.620806+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}