- Items handed in by an employee or a member of the public must be recorded in a lost property register. Details to be recorded must include: -
- A full description of the items(s)
- The location where the item was found
- The name and address of the finder
- The name of the person receiving the item
- The date and time when the item was handed in
- A unique reference number
- Any obviously valuable items must also be reported to the Police so that their records of stolen or lost property can be searched/updated as appropriate.
- A receipt and also a copy of this policy must be handed to the finder. The receipt will include the above details.
- All items of lost property must be labelled with the unique register reference for subsequent identification and must be stored securely.
- The finder will be informed that the item will be retained for one calendar month.
- If the item remains unclaimed after that time, the finder will be entitled to claim it.
- The finder will have to claim the item within one week after the calendar month has expired.
- In order to claim the item, the original receipt must be produced.
- The finder will be required to sign a receipt for the items claimed
- This receipt must include the full name and address of the claimant, who must be the finder.
- Any lost property remains the property of the original owner. If, even after a long period of time, the owner is found, he or she still retains rights of ownership.
- Where an item is claimed by its owner, the Head of Business Unit will arrange for reasonable checks to be carried out to verify the authenticity of the claim. The extent of these checks must reflect the estimated value of the item.
- Items remaining unclaimed will be disposed of by the Head of Business Unit by open tender. Proceeds of disposal will be passed to a charity nominated by the current Mayor. Full records of the disposal, adequately cross-referenced to the original lost property record, must be compiled and retained on file for a period of two years.
- The following items are excluded from this policy: -
- Weapons of any sort }These must be recorded in the lost
- Mobile Telephones }property register as above and
- Anything where the owner is readily identifiable }immediately passed to the police
- Credit or debit cards. These must be recorded in the lost property register as above and immediately reported to the card issuer. The card issuer will then advise what further action is necessary.
- Items where there is any suspicion of danger to employees or to the public. The police must be contacted immediately in such circumstances for advice.
- Where there is doubt as to the treatment of any item(s) handed in, the matter must be referred to the Head of Business Unit. If the matter still cannot be resolved locally, the Police should be contacted for advice.
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