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Intelligence and Security Act 2017

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences

226: Personation

You could also call this:

"Pretending to work for a spy agency is against the law"

Illustration for Intelligence and Security Act 2017

If you pretend to be an employee of an intelligence and security agency, you might commit an offence. You do this if you say or do something that makes someone think you work for an intelligence and security agency, without a good reason. You also do this if you use the name or title of someone who works for an intelligence and security agency.

If you commit this offence, you could go to prison for up to 12 months or get a fine of up to $15,000. You might even get both a prison sentence and a fine.

You can find more information about similar laws by looking at the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 and other related laws, such as s 13 and s 48.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6921266.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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Part 7Miscellaneous provisions
Offences

226Personation

  1. A person commits an offence if the person, without reasonable excuse and in circumstances likely to lead another person to believe that the person is an employee of an intelligence and security agency,—

  2. pretends to be an employee of an intelligence and security agency by his or her words, conduct, or demeanour; or
    1. assumes the name, designation, or description of an employee of an intelligence and security agency.

      1. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction to—

      2. a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months; or
        1. a fine not exceeding $15,000; or
          1. both (a) and (b).

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