London Local Authorities Act 2000

16 Powers of entry

(1) This section applies where a vehicle has been removed from a road in the area of a participating council by a parking attendant under section 99 of the Act of 1984 and regulations made thereunder.

(2) An authorised officer may, at any time after the removal of the vehicle and before the vehicle is lawfully removed from the custody of the council or is disposed of under section 101 of the Act of 1984, enter the vehicle for the purpose of removing anything in it in the interests of the safety of persons or property outside the vehicle or for the prevention of damage to or loss of the vehicle or any of its contents.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, a council shall retain and keep safe anything removed under subsection (2) above and shall deliver it to any person claiming it who satisfies the council that he is the owner of it or of the vehicle in question.

(4) Where the vehicle from which anything is removed under subsection (2) above is disposed of under section 101(1) of the Act of 1984 the council may also, in any manner they think fit, dispose of the thing removed if it has not been claimed by any person who satisfies the council that he is its owner.