Summary Offences Act 1981

Offences against persons or property

10: Assault on Police, prison, or traffic officer

You could also call this:

"Hurting a police, prison, or traffic officer on the job is against the law"

Illustration for Summary Offences Act 1981

You can go to prison for up to 6 months or get a fine of up to $4,000 if you assault a police officer, prison officer, or traffic officer who is doing their job. If you hurt one of these officers on purpose, you will be in trouble with the law. The law says you must not assault them while they are working.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM53530.

This page was last updated on 11 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Police and safety

9: Common assault, or

"Hitting or hurting someone can lead to prison or a fine"

10A: Ill-treatment or wilful neglect of child, or

"Don't hurt or neglect kids on purpose"

10Assault on Police, prison, or traffic officer

Every person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $4,000 who assaults any constable, or any prison officer, or any traffic officer, acting in the execution of his duty.

Compare

1927 No 35 s 77A(1)
1974 No 134 s 2(1)

Notes

Section 10: amended, on 1 January 1998, by section 7 of the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 97).