Tips for Smart Cops Series
Handling of detained persons' property

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1. A detained person is to be searched by the Duty Officer (DO) or an officer detailed by him in the presence of a second officer. The duty of the second officer is to witness the procedure. After the officer conducting the search has itemised and checked the detained person's property, the detained person shall be invited to sign the Communal Information System (CIS) generated Pol 39, with the two officers countersigning it. The property is then sealed in a Tamper Evident Property Envelope in the presence of all three, who will then sign on the envelope, which is to contain the Pol 39 number.

2. When the DO takes over duty, he shall examine each packet and other articles to satisfy himself that they are intact and the seals of envelopes have not been tampered with.

3. Provided that the DO is satisfied that the items are not required as evidence, could not be used to cause harm to the detained person or others or facilitate an escape, a detained person may be allowed to retain his clothing and personal effects.

4. If a detained person's property has been extracted for safekeeping, the DO should record details of the property, item by item, in the "Detained Persons' Property" section of the CIS Detention Record.

(This column is contributed by the Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch)