344Ministerial arrangements for transmission and return of seized objects

344 Ministerial arrangements for transmission and return of seized objects

(1) The Minister may enter into arrangements with a Minister to whom the administration of a corresponding law is committed under which—

(a) objects seized under this Part that may be relevant to the investigation of an offence against the law of the State, or Territory in which the corresponding law is in force—

(i) are to be transmitted to the appropriate authority in that State or Territory for the purposes of investigation of, or proceedings in respect of, that offence; and

(ii) when no longer required for the purpose of any such investigation or proceedings, are (unless disposed of by order or direction of a court) to be returned to the Chief Commissioner of Police for Victoria; and

(b) objects seized under the corresponding law that may be relevant to the investigation of an offence against the law of Victoria—

(i) are to be transmitted to the Chief Commissioner of Police of Victoria; and

(ii) when no longer required for the purposes of investigation of an offence, or proceedings in respect of an offence, are (unless disposed of by order or direction of a court) to be returned to the appropriate authority in the State or Territory in which they were seized.

(2) The owner of an object returned to the Chief Commissioner of Police in pursuance of arrangements under subsection (1) is entitled to the return of the objects.

(3) The right referred to in subsection (2) is enforceable by action in detinue in a court of competent jurisdiction.

New s. 345 inserted by No. 70/1987 s. 4, amended by No. 10/1999 s. 31(5)(a).