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Police, bailiff and unclaimed-goods auctions in the UK

By · Published · Last reviewed · 7 min read

UK police sell unclaimed and forfeited property through auction houses they appoint, and the arrangement differs by force: Police Scotland uses Wilsons Auctions, for example. Goods taken by bailiffs (enforcement agents) must by law be sold at public auction. Courier “unclaimed goods” and returns sales are separate commercial auctions run by ordinary salerooms.

Which police, bailiff and unclaimed-goods sales are coming up?

This list is generated from the auctions Auction Eagle tracks. It includes every upcoming or currently open sale whose title mentions police, bailiffs, seized goods, unclaimed goods, lost property or luggage, couriers, returns or liquidation stock. It updates automatically, so it may be empty at quiet times.

11 upcoming or open sales whose title mentions police, bailiff, seized, unclaimed, lost property, courier, returns or liquidation stock, as listed on Auction Eagle on 17 October 2026. Titles are the auction houses' own; open a sale for its terms.

Matching is by title only, so a sale can appear because it includes some police or unclaimed lots alongside other property, and sales that do not use these words in their titles will be missed. For broader searches, use all upcoming auctions, auctions this week or the collectables category.

Where do police sell seized goods?

There is no single national police auction site. Each force (or, in Scotland, the national force) decides how it disposes of property, and in practice most use established auction houses that sell to the public. Published examples:

  • Police Scotland. In a freedom of information response dated 8 October 2025 (Word document), the force said: “The auctioneer used by the Police Service of Scotland is Wilsons Auctions”. It added that items chosen for auction “are not broken down between unclaimed found property and seized productions”, and that the proceeds go to its Finance Department and are “incorporated into the general Police Scotland budget”.
  • An Garda Síochána (Republic of Ireland). A Garda press release announced an online auction of gold bullion seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, running from 17 to 20 April 2026. It said “The auction is being facilitated by Wilsons Auctions”, that “the net proceeds of the auction will be returned to the Exchequer”, and that “bidding is open to the public and is online only”.
  • Greater Manchester Police. A 2026 freedom of information response on unclaimed property names the auction houses the force uses for general unclaimed property, and says that auction dates and listings are managed by each auction house rather than by the force.

Many older articles point to Bumblebee Auctions, a website that a number of police forces used to sell property online. When we checked on 17 October 2026, bumblebeeauctions.co.uk did not load as a working auction site, so do not rely on it. The most reliable route is your own force’s website: search it for “property disposal”, “unclaimed property” or “auctions”, or submit a freedom of information request asking which auctioneer it uses.

Proceeds of crime sales are a separate stream from lost property. Assets forfeited under proceeds of crime legislation, like the Garda gold above, can be sold in dedicated auctions, and the force’s or agency’s press release is usually the best place to find out who is selling them.

What rules govern police property sales?

In England and Wales, property that comes into police possession in connection with criminal investigations is dealt with under the Police (Property) Act 1897 and the Police (Property) Regulations 1997. The key points of the regulations as made:

  • Where the owner has not been found and no court order has been made, the property “shall not be disposed of until it has remained in the possession of the police for a year” (regulation 4), except where it is perishable or its custody “involves unreasonable expense or inconvenience”.
  • After that period, property other than money “may be sold” (regulation 6).
  • Sale proceeds go into a “Police Property Act Fund”, which can pay the costs of storage and sale, reasonable compensation to people who handed property in, and “such charitable purposes as they may select” (regulation 6).
  • Instead of selling, the authority may decide to keep property for police use (regulation 7), and the chief officer can order destruction of property that it is “not in the public interest” to sell (regulation 8).

These regulations extend to England and Wales only. In Scotland, Police Scotland’s FOI response says auction proceeds are processed in accordance with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

How are bailiff goods sold?

Since 2014, bailiffs in England and Wales (now called enforcement agents) take control of goods under Schedule 12 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Paragraph 41 is short and clear: “The sale must be by public auction unless the court orders otherwise.“

The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 set the timetable. Regulation 37 says the minimum period before sale “is 7 clear days from removing controlled goods for sale”, with an exception for goods that would become unsaleable or lose most of their value if kept that long.

HMRC’s internal guidance on its own enforcement sales, DMBM657140, adds practical detail: sale “should be by public auction which includes the use of internet and online auction sites”, the debtor must get written notice “at least seven clear days before the date of the sale”, and it is “not… the operational policy of HMRC to set a reserve price other than in exceptional circumstances”.

For buyers, this means enforcement sales usually appear in ordinary auction catalogues, sometimes described as “sold on the instructions of” an enforcement company or receiver, and often without a reserve. Look for those phrases in sale descriptions as well as in titles.

What are unclaimed courier goods and returns auctions?

A growing share of “unclaimed” sales have nothing to do with the police. They are commercial sales of parcels and stock that a delivery network could not deliver or return, retailers’ customer returns and end-of-line stock, and goods from businesses that have closed. On Auction Eagle these mostly come through Easylive Auction from commercial salerooms.

The terms are often stricter than at an antiques sale. A Wellers Auctions timed sale of “Unclaimed Goods from a Major UK Courier Network”, closing on 18 October 2026, states in its catalogue that all goods are “sold as seen online” and “carry no guarantee or warranty”, that “if you buy boxed items, we cannot guarantee all the accessories are there”, and that “all lots are sold with VAT except those that are exempt”. Its buyer’s premium is tiered: 30.5% plus VAT for hammer prices under £15 and 28% plus VAT from £15. Viewing was offered for a short window before the close, with a note that not all lots may be available to view.

That combination (sold as seen, VAT on the hammer price, a high percentage premium on cheap lots) means the price you see while bidding can be well below what you pay. A £10 hammer at 30.5% plus VAT on the premium, with VAT on the hammer as well, comes to about £15.66 before any delivery.

What should you check before bidding?

  1. Who is selling, and on whose behalf. The catalogue should say whether lots come from a police force, an enforcement agent, a receiver or a commercial consignor.
  2. Condition and completeness. Many lots are untested and sold as seen. Electrical items may be sold for spares; one rural saleroom’s terms we read state that “electrical items sold as scrap”. Ask for a condition report where offered.
  3. The full cost. Buyer’s premium, VAT on the premium, VAT on the hammer where it applies, and any online surcharge. Our auction fees guide explains each one.
  4. Collection rules. Commercial sales often have short collection windows and charge for storage. If you are buying from a distance, check whether the house posts small items.
  5. Identity and payment. Expect to register with ID and a payment card; see how to buy at a UK auction.

Most of these sales are timed online auctions, so read our guide to timed auction rules and extended bidding before the closing day. To see which houses run them near you, browse by region, for example Surrey, London or Northern Ireland, or search the auction house directory.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Where do police sell seized goods?

It varies by force. Police Scotland said in October 2025 that it uses Wilsons Auctions, and An Garda Síochána used Wilsons for a Proceeds of Crime gold sale in April 2026. In England and Wales, unclaimed property can be sold under the Police (Property) Regulations 1997; check your force's website for its auctioneer.

Can anyone buy at a police auction?

Generally yes. The police sales we cite are public auctions, and you register with the auctioneer in the same way as for any other sale, usually with ID and a payment card. Lots are commonly sold as seen, so read the terms and condition notes first.

How long do police keep unclaimed property before selling it?

In England and Wales, the Police (Property) Regulations 1997 say property whose owner has not been found should not be disposed of until it has been in police possession for a year, with exceptions for perishable property or property that is costly or inconvenient to keep.

Are bailiff goods sold at auction?

Yes. Under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, goods taken by enforcement agents must be sold by public auction unless a court orders otherwise, and the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 set a minimum of 7 clear days between removing goods and selling them in most cases.

What is an unclaimed courier goods auction?

A sale of parcels and stock from a delivery network that the auction house describes as unclaimed. Terms we have seen say goods are sold as seen with no guarantee and accessories may be missing, so check the condition notes, viewing times and buyer's premium before bidding.