Abstract

Within the police service and elsewhere, great emphasis is placed today on respecting the rights of the bereaved in the aftermath of disaster and other circumstances of sudden violent death. When it comes to the specific details relating to the recovery, processing and return of personal possessions to the bereaved, however, there are still varying degrees of understanding about the meaning and significance of personal property and a lack of clarity within and across the various responding organisations about protocols for dealing with such property. This article highlights key issues relating to the treatment and return of personal property with particular reference to the role of the police service.