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Summary Offences Act 1981

Intimidation, obstruction, and hindering Police

24: False allegation or report to Police

You could also call this:

"Making a false report to the Police can get you in trouble"

Illustration for Summary Offences Act 1981

You can get in trouble if you make a false report to the Police. If you tell a Police employee something that is not true, and you know it is not true, you can be fined up to $2,000 or go to prison for up to 3 months. You can also get in trouble if you make a false statement or behave in a way that causes people to worry about their safety, and you know that worry is not needed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM53580.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal law
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24False allegation or report to Police

  1. Every person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding $2,000 who,—

  2. contrary to the fact and without a belief in the truth of the statement, makes or causes to be made to any Police employee any written or verbal statement alleging that an offence has been committed; or
    1. with the intention of causing wasteful deployment, or of diverting deployment, of Police personnel or resources, or being reckless as to that result,—
      1. makes a statement to any person that gives rise to serious apprehension for his own safety or the safety of any person or property, knowing that the statement is false; or
        1. behaves in a manner that is likely to give rise to such apprehension, knowing that such apprehension would be groundless.

        Compare
        • 1935 No 29 s 4
        • 1967 No 154 s 2(2)
        Notes
        • Section 24: amended, on , by section 7 of the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 97).
        • Section 24(a): amended, on , by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).