19Return of property after release

19 Return of property after release

(1)  This regulation applies if any property of a prisoner or detainee (in this regulation referred to as the released person) is not, for any reason, taken by or returned to him or her on release.

(2)  As soon as practicable after becoming aware that the property has not been taken or returned, the Director is to send the released person a notice advising –

(a) that the property is still being held; and

(b) the nature of the property; and

(c) that the released person, within a period of not less than 30 days specified in the notice, may arrange with the Director to –

(i) collect the property in person; or

(ii) have someone collect the property on the released person's behalf; or

(iii) have the property sent to the released person, or to an address nominated by the released person, at the released person's expense; and

(d) that, in the absence of such an arrangement, the property will be disposed of; and

(e) where, for the purposes of collection, the property is held; and

(f) such other matters as the Director thinks fit in the circumstances.

(3)  The notice is to be sent to the address of the released person last known to the Director.

(4)  The released person may arrange for the property to be collected or sent in accordance with the terms of the notice.

(5)  The Director may dispose of the property in such manner as the Director thinks fit if –

(a) the released person fails to make an arrangement under subregulation (4); or

(b) the Director is unable to send the notice because he or she does not have an address for the released person and is unable, after making reasonable enquiries, to discover such an address.

(6)  [Regulation 19 Subregulation (6) amended by No. 38 of 2020, Sched. 1, Applied:27 Nov 2020] Any money received from the disposal of property under this regulation is to be paid into the Public Account.