15Disposal orders
(1)This section applies in respect of a complaint made by a borough council or the Police Commissioner for a disposal order in respect of a relevant object under subsection (5) of section 14 (return and disposal of seized items) of this Act.
(2)In the case of a relevant object which the council or the Police Commissioner has attempted to return to the person who the council believes is the person from whom it was seized or is its owner, and that person disclaimed or refused to accept it, a copy of the complaint shall be served on that person.
(3)In respect of a complaint to which this section applies, a magistrates' court may, if it is satisfied that the council or the Police Commissioner has made reasonable efforts to identify the person from whom the relevant object was seized or its owner, as the case may be, or has made reasonable efforts to return the relevant object it may make an order authorising the complainant council or the Police Commissioner—
(a)to dispose of the relevant object in question; and
(b)after payment out of any proceeds arising from the disposal of the expenses incurred in the seizure, storage and disposal, to retain the balance, if any.
(4)In the case where a copy of a complaint has been served under subsection (2) above, if the relevant object in question is not of sufficient value to defray the expenses of seizing and storing it, the magistrates' court may order that the recipient of the copy of the complaint pay the expenses, or the balance of the expenses, reasonably incurred by the council or the Police Commissioner in seizing and storing it, if it is satisfied that the recipient was the owner of the relevant object in question or was the person from whom it was seized, as the case may be.
(5)For the purposes of this section, “owner” in respect of a vehicle, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of section 13 (advertising: seizure) of this Act.