Lost Property Policy updated
17 Feb 2017
The University's Lost Property Policy aims to ensure that property found or left within University premises is dealt with consistently
The policy applies to anybody entering University premises and should be used when property is found or has been left behind. Below is a summary of its contents:
What is lost property?
- Anything not belonging to the University left on University premises;
- Personal items of value left on the premises which contain personal or sensitive information and/or information from which an individual might be identified, eg, passport, birth certificate, cheque book.
What should I do with lost property?
- If you find lost property on University premises, you should hand it to staff in House Services or the Student Services Centre, who will log it and make every effort to trace the owner.
- If you find a personal item of value on University premises, you have a personal responsibility to hand it in.
What happens to lost property?
- All bank cards will be securely destroyed immediately.
- Food or drink items will be disposed of immediately, for health and safety reasons.
- Where possible, personal items of value will be returned to an originator (eg driving licences to the DVLA).
- All other unclaimed items will be kept for one month and then disposed of as follows:
- if they are likely to contain sensitive data (laptops, phones etc), they will be disposed of in accordance with the University Policy on the disposal of sensitive data;
- unclaimed cash will be donated to the Student Hardship Fund;
- where appropriate, they will be sent for recycling or donated to local charity shops.
How do I reclaim lost property?
- If you wish to collect lost property, you should contact the Student Services Centre directly.
- Small items may be returned by post at the owner's request, but the University will not accept any responsibility for items lost in the post.
- Owners who wish to have items sent by recorded delivery will be charged.
Further information
The full updated Lost Property Policy is online at: