In 2024, the SPF received about 50,000 reports of found property, an increase from 42,000 in 2022. More than half of these items were successfully traced back to their owners.
Unclaimed items that cannot be traced to an owner are either auctioned, forfeited or disposed of, in accordance with the Police Force Act 2004.
Valuables such as watches and jewellery are auctioned off, while cash is transferred to the state.
Non-valuable or unusual items – like a single shoe, which officers said was the strangest found property they received – are disposed of at an incineration plant.
SORTING THE ITEM
Once items reach the Found and Unclaimed Property Office, they undergo a sorting process.
During CNA’s visit, media representatives were taken through various rooms, each showcasing a step in the workflow.
In the first room, a robotic conveyor system transports trays of found items to designated workstations. SPF explained that this system optimises handling and routing, reducing the need for manual transport and allowing officers to focus on more complex tasks.
