4.—(1) Any equipment or item that has been seized and removed by a constable or authorised officer under section 38 or 41 of the 2008 Act may be retained for so long as is necessary in all the circumstances.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) anything seized for the purposes of a criminal investigation may be retained—
(a)for use as evidence at a trial for an offence; or
(b)for forensic examination or for investigation in connection with an offence.