257Authorised officer may apply for a thing to be retained for a further period

257 Authorised officer may apply for a thing to be retained for a further period

(1) This section applies if an *authorised officer has seized a thing under this Part and proceedings in respect of which the thing might afford evidence have not commenced before the end of: (a) 60 days after the seizure; or (b) a period previously specified in an order of a magistrate under this section. (2) The *authorised officer may apply to a magistrate for an order that the officer may retain the thing for a further period. (3) Before making the application, the *authorised officer must: (a) take reasonable steps to discover whose interests would be affected by the retention of the thing; and (b) if it is practicable to do so, notify each person whom the officer believes to be such a person of the proposed application.