Customs Consolidation Act 1876

206 Goods stopped by police officers may be retained until trial of persons charged with stealing them.

If any such goods liable to duties of Customs, or prohibited to be imported, or in any way restricted, shall be stopped or taken by any police officer on suspicion that the same had been feloniously stolen, he may carry the same to the police office to which the offender if detained is taken, there to remain until and in order to be produced at the trial of such offender, and in such case the officer is required to give notice in writing to the Commissioners of Customs of such stoppage or detention, with the particulars of the goods, but immediately after such stoppage if the offender be not detained, or if detained immediately after the trial of such offender, such officer shall convey to and deposit the goods in the nearest Customs warehouse, to be proceeded against according to law; and if any police officer so detaining any such goods shall neglect to convey the same to such warehouse, or to give the notice herein-before prescribed, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty pounds.