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Corrections Act 2004

Corrections system - Offences - Other offences

144: Pretending to be security officer or employee of department

You could also call this:

"It's against the law to pretend to be a Corrections security officer or staff member."

If you pretend to be a security officer or an employee of the Corrections department, you are committing an offence. You do this by saying or doing something that makes people think you are a security officer or an employee of the department when you are not. You also commit an offence if you wear a uniform or use a name or title that makes people think you are a security officer or an employee of the department.

If you do this, you can get in trouble with the law. You might have to go to prison for up to three months, or you might have to pay a fine of up to $2,000, or you might have to do both.

The law that says this is part of the Corrections Act 2004, which you can find on the New Zealand legislation website.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM296522.

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Crime and justice > Criminal lawGovernment and voting > Government departments
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"Rules for talking to or giving things to prisoners outside prison"

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Part 2Corrections system
Offences: Other offences

144Pretending to be security officer or employee of department

  1. Every person commits an offence who, not being an employee of the department on whom powers or functions are conferred by this Act or a security officer, by words, conduct, or demeanour,—

  2. pretends that he or she is an employee of the department with powers or functions under this Act or a security officer; or
    1. puts on or assumes the dress, name, designation, or description of an employee of the department with powers or functions under this Act or a security officer.

      1. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or to both.

      Notes
      • Section 144(2): amended, on , by section 6 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 84).