Gwent Police joins online police auction scheme

Gwent Police is now selling lost and stolen items on police auction website www.bumblebeeauctions.co.uk

All money raised from the scheme, which sells items whose owners cannot be tracked down, will be ploughed back into police initiatives and operations.

Gwent Police director of resources Nigel Stephens said: “Unfortunately despite our best efforts, we are sometimes unable to return recovered property to its original owner. The law allows forces to sell off unclaimed recovered goods and, like many police forces, Gwent has used auction houses in the past.”

“The bumblebee site has the advantage of giving more people the opportunity to bid, and the system also has much lower costs and overheads. As a result we should generate increased funds for the force.

“Typical items which are sold include jewellery, watches, electrical goods, bikes, tools, games consoles, but there really is no limit to the type of item. All items sold will be done accordance with the Police Property Regulations 1997 Act.”

Laurie Oliver, who co-ordinates the scheme for Gwent Police, said each item auction lasts for seven days.

She said: “The item goes to the highest bidder with no reserve. Buyers can opt to collect items such as bicycles, large tools etc or can have items posted to them buy the Bumblebee Company, who collect small items from our property store and post them out to buyers.”