London Local Authorities Act 2004

6 Powers of entry

(1) This section applies where a vehicle is to be or has been removed from a road by a borough council under section 3 (Removal of abandoned vehicles) of the 1978 Act.

(2) An authorised officer may, at any time before the vehicle is lawfully removed from the custody of the council or is disposed of by the council under section 4 (Disposal of abandoned vehicles) of the 1978 Act, enter the vehicle for the purpose of—

(a) removing anything from it in the interests of the safety of persons or property; or

(b) preventing damage to or loss of the vehicle or any of its contents.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, the 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) The council may, in such manner as they think fit and at any time, dispose of any perishable item removed under subsection (2) above.

(5) Where the vehicle from which anything is removed under subsection (2) above is disposed of under the said section 4 the council may—

(a) no sooner than the date on which the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the vehicle was removed expires; and

(b) 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.

(6) If any person, no later than the date on which the period of five months beginning with the date on which the vehicle was removed expires satisfies the council that they were, at the time the vehicle was removed, the owner of anything disposed of under subsection (4) or (5) above, the council shall pay to that person the proceeds (if any) obtained on the disposal of the thing.