Police Auctions in the UK: Where Police Property Is Sold Near You
UK police forces do not run a public auction site of their own. Lost, unclaimed and seized property is sold through a small number of commercial auctioneers and a few force eBay shops, and police cars go through vehicle auctions. This page lists where to look, and how the rules work.
Last updated: 2026-11-09
Where UK police property is sold
Police forces buy auction services through BlueLight Commercial, the police buying body. Its disposal framework (August 2023 to July 2027) appoints John Pye, Brightwells and Wilsons Auctions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and John Pye, Wilsons and BCA in Scotland. A force can use that framework or its own contract, so which auctioneer sells your local force's property depends on the force.
John Pye Auctions
Runs online police and government sales of lost, unclaimed and seized property, with collection from its sites or delivery on some lots. On the national police framework for auction services in every UK region, including Scotland.
John Pye police and government auctionsWilsons Auctions
Runs police and government sales of recovered lost property, seized goods and surplus public-sector assets, and sells for Police Scotland (for example its Police Scotland bicycle sales at Dalry, Ayrshire). On the national framework in every UK region.
Wilsons police and government auctionsBrightwells
On the national framework for auction services, covering vehicles, plant and other items, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland.
BlueLight Commercial disposal frameworkBCA
On the national framework for auction services in Scotland only, for vehicles.
BlueLight Commercial disposal frameworkForce eBay shops
Some forces sell lower-value lost and seized property through their own eBay store. Sussex Police's store is the best known. There is no auction-house premium, and eBay's buyer protection applies.
Sussex Police Auctions on eBay
Be wary of any site that calls itself the official UK police auction: there is no single official site, and some sites with "police auctions" in the name are directories, not police sellers. Bumblebee Auctions, once widely used by forces, no longer has a working website.
Lost property, seized goods and police vehicles
Lost and unclaimed property. Bikes, phones, tools and everyday items that were handed in or recovered and never claimed. In England and Wales, property in police hands whose owner cannot be found is dealt with under the Police (Property) Act 1897, and the Police (Property) Regulations 1997 say it must be held for a year before it is disposed of, unless it is perishable or costly to store.
Seized and forfeited goods. Property kept after a court order, and assets confiscated from criminals, such as watches, jewellery, designer goods and cars. These turn up in the police and government sales at John Pye and Wilsons.
Police vehicles. Retired patrol cars, vans and motorcycles are sold with police equipment and livery removed, in vehicle auctions rather than property sales. Our guide to buying ex-police cars covers where they are sold and what to check.
Police auctions in Scotland
Scotland has one national force and its own law. Under section 68 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, found property can be sold after two months rather than a year, and a buyer in good faith becomes the owner. Wilsons Auctions sells for Police Scotland, including bicycle sales from its Dalry site in Ayrshire, and the national framework in Scotland is John Pye, Wilsons and BCA.
How to find a police auction near you
- Check your force's website for a lost property or property disposal page. Forces that sell direct usually link their eBay store or name their auctioneer.
- Search John Pye and Wilsons police sales, and filter by the collection site nearest to you. Bulky lots and bikes are often collection only.
- On eBay, search stores for your force's name and filter by collection distance.
- For vehicles, watch the vehicle auction houses near you and look for "ex-police" in the lot title.
- Before you bid, check the buyer's premium, VAT and collection window in the sale terms. Most police lots are sold as seen.
Live UK auction lots
Ford Transit Courier Trend Tdci
Chester-le-Street, Tyne and Wear
186,174 miDieselManual
Ford Transit Conn T200 L75
Chester-le-Street, Tyne and Wear
182,782 miDieselManual
Vauxhall Mokka X Active Turbo S/S
Telford, Telford and Wrekin
82,935 miManual
Citroen Relay 35 H-Y L4h3 Eprise B-Hdi
Telford, Telford and Wrekin
116,362 miDoes not runDiesel
Nissan Juke N-Tec CVT
Telford, Telford and Wrekin
92,809 mi
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Selection of Gold Coloured Rings
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Browse UK auctions
Our UK feed collects live lots from Witham Specialist Vehicles, Ramco, Eddisons, NCM Auctions, BPI Auctions, Apex Auctions and Wilsons Auctions, and links each lot to the auctioneer's own page to bid.
- MoD auctions and military surplus (ex-MoD kit from Witham Specialist Vehicles and Ramco)
- Ex-MoD vehicles (24 live)
- Vehicles at UK auction (1,835 live)
- Jewellery and watches (175 live)
- Every live UK lot, searchable by postcode and distance
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I find police auctions near me in the UK?
- There is no single official police auction site. Start with your local force's website or its lost property page, which usually names its auctioneer or links an eBay store. Then search the auctioneers on the national police framework (John Pye, Wilsons Auctions and Brightwells, plus BCA in Scotland) and filter by the collection site nearest to you.
- How long do UK police keep lost property before selling it?
- In England and Wales, property whose owner cannot be found must be held for a year before it is disposed of, under regulation 4 of the Police (Property) Regulations 1997, unless it is perishable or costly to store. In Scotland, the chief constable can sell found property after two months under section 68 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
- Are ex-police cars sold at the same auctions?
- Usually not. Police vehicles go through vehicle auctioneers on the same national framework (John Pye, Brightwells and Wilsons, with BCA in Scotland), in separate vehicle sales. Our ex-police cars guide covers where they are sold and what to check.
- Is it legal to buy stolen goods at a police auction?
- Yes. The force or its auctioneer sells under statutory powers once the holding period has passed, or after a court order, so you get good title to what you buy.