Part 2Enforcement
9Forfeiture
1
A court which convicts a person of an offence under Part 1 of this Act may order the forfeiture of any dog or hunting article which—
a
was used in the commission of the offence, or
b
was in the possession of the person convicted at the time of his arrest.
2
A court which convicts a person of an offence under Part 1 of this Act may order the forfeiture of any vehicle which was used in the commission of the offence.
3
In subsection (1) “hunting article” means anything designed or adapted for use in connection with—
a
hunting a wild mammal, or
b
hare coursing.
4
A forfeiture order—
a
may include such provision about the treatment of the dog, vehicle or article forfeited as the court thinks appropriate, and
b
subject to provision made under paragraph (a), shall be treated as requiring any person who is in possession of the dog, vehicle or article to surrender it to a constable as soon as is reasonably practicable.
5
Where a forfeited dog, vehicle or article is retained by or surrendered to a constable, the police force of which the constable is a member shall ensure that such arrangements are made for its destruction or disposal—
a
as are specified in the forfeiture order, or
b
where no arrangements are specified in the order, as seem to the police force to be appropriate.
6
The court which makes a forfeiture order may order the return of the forfeited dog, vehicle or article on an application made—
a
by a person who claims to have an interest in the dog, vehicle or article (other than the person on whose conviction the order was made), and
b
before the dog, vehicle or article has been destroyed or finally disposed of under subsection (5).
7
A person commits an offence if he fails to—
a
comply with a forfeiture order, or
b
co-operate with a step taken for the purpose of giving effect to a forfeiture order.