'Finders keepers' as Cambridgeshire police no longer take lost property
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is set to join other police forces nationwide by ceasing to take reports of lost property and accepting only certain types of found item.
The changes will took effect nationally yesterday (February 1) after the Chief Constables’ Council agreed it as a way of reducing non-essential demand and the associated costs and bureaucracy generated for call centres and front counters.
The police service has traditionally accepted the responsibility of recording lost and found property, despite there being no statutory duty to maintain a system of recording non-evidential property.
Found items dealt with by police will reduce and a consistent approach will be adopted across the country. This will help reduce call volumes and remove an unnecessary burden on policing.
Inspector Keren Pope said: “As with any change to a long-standing convention, it will take time for people to get used to this new way of working.
“There are now many ways of receiving the same service online and information and guidance will be available on our website. These changes will result in a significant saving for forces in terms of time and money, allowing us to concentrate on the issues most important to people.
“For found items we no longer accept, with some exceptions, the finder will be encouraged to retain the property. They are under no legal obligation to hand in the property providing they have made a reasonable attempt to return it to the owner.”
Those who have lost or found an item, can visit the force website for guidance on what they should do.