All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

All dressed up on wrong side of law

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
13 Nov, 2012 04:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A number of people reportedly dressed as cops in Christchurch in the aftermath of the February 2011 quake. Photo / APN
A number of people reportedly dressed as cops in Christchurch in the aftermath of the February 2011 quake. Photo / APN

A number of people reportedly dressed as cops in Christchurch in the aftermath of the February 2011 quake. Photo / APN

A man who wanted to be a police officer ended up on the wrong end of the law when he was caught at a checkpoint with firearms and police-issued uniforms and equipment including lights, siren and handcuffs in the back of his car.

The South Auckland man is one of 34 people who have been before the courts for impersonating police since 2008. Figures released to the Herald under the Official Information Act show that two women and 32 men have been convicted of impersonating police between 2008 and 2011.

The majority of people were convicted in Invercargill, Waitakere, Counties Manukau and Christchurch. The most common age of offender was 17-19 or 25-29.

The Herald requested the information after an impersonating charge was laid against North Shore policewoman Karis Charnley. The case against her was dismissed last week, but her co-accused Cameron Ross was jailed on the same charge.

Earlier this year the Police Association revealed details of others charged with impersonating police in its monthly members' magazine.

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The South Auckland man passed a breath test and there were no issues with his vehicle - but his "nervous demeanour" prompted officers to search the car. They found a bullet-proof vest, an old analogue police radio, police lights and sirens, a police glow jacket, handcuffs and two firearms, Police News said.

Officers then searched the man's home and found more than 1000 rounds of ammunition, more police clothing and firearms including imitation Bushmaster rifles and Glock pistols - both used by police.

"To the officers' horror, it turned out the guy actually wanted to join the police. That certainly is not going to happen now, but he is obviously not alone in embracing a fictional law-enforcement role," the association said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A Hamilton man was caught after he stole a police vest and breath-tester and began stopping cars, pretending to be an on-duty officer.

On Auckland's North Shore, a man admitted posing as an officer after he was caught shoplifting.

"He was found with several forged business cards claiming he was a constable at Takapuna," the association reported. Other examples included a Dunedin man who posed as a cop and threatened a man asleep in his car on the side of the road and a number of dodgy people dressed as "cops" were reported in Christchurch in the aftermath of the February 2011 earthquake.

Thief posed as as policeman

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

Police arrest fugitive trio

13 Nov 12:07 AM
New Zealand|crime

Police draw blank following attempted abduction

13 Nov 02:38 AM
New Zealand|crime

Tolley defends possible sex offender register

13 Nov 06:33 AM
New Zealand

Teen hurt in late-night hunting accident

13 Nov 07:12 AM

Impersonating a police officer earned Cameron Anthony Ross three months behind bars, which he is serving concurrently with a 12-month term for stealing a car.

Ross admitted picking up a police uniform from Karis Charnley, then working as a police officer on the North Shore. He also obtained a pair of police overalls and an impound notice pad, which was filled out using the identification details of Ms Charnley's former supervisor.

Ross wore the police uniform and went with a male associate, dressed in the overalls, to a house in Devonport. They then proceeded to tell their victim they were cops investigating a hit-and-run, and were there to seize a car. They handed over a false impound notice and left with the vehicle. Ross was later found by police in a different stolen car. With him, he had a set of police epaulets carrying Ms Charnley's officer identification number.

Ms Charnley denied any part in the theft of the car and after a defended hearing the case was dismissed because there was not enough clear evidence to prove her participation.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Crime

Watch: Video shows chaotic, chilling moments before fatal stabbing

11 Jul 05:00 AM
New Zealand|crime

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM
Crime

Heartbreak and anger as Dunedin teen sentenced for killing Enere McLaren-Taana

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
US State Department to begin layoffs to downsize government
World

US State Department to begin layoffs to downsize government

11 Jul 04:40 AM
Trump hits Canada with new tariff threat
World

Trump hits Canada with new tariff threat

11 Jul 04:40 AM
Fourth measles case in Wairarapa linked to overseas travel cluster
New Zealand

Fourth measles case in Wairarapa linked to overseas travel cluster

11 Jul 04:28 AM
Wellington Chamber of Commerce boss resigns abruptly
Wellington

Wellington Chamber of Commerce boss resigns abruptly

11 Jul 04:17 AM
Aussie sporting first in racial abuse arrest
World

Aussie sporting first in racial abuse arrest

11 Jul 04:15 AM

Latest from New Zealand

Watch: Video shows chaotic, chilling moments before fatal stabbing

Watch: Video shows chaotic, chilling moments before fatal stabbing

11 Jul 05:00 AM

Joeli "Skunks" Rankin was filmed yelling taunts while holding a machete, smashing window.

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM
Heartbreak and anger as Dunedin teen sentenced for killing Enere McLaren-Taana

Heartbreak and anger as Dunedin teen sentenced for killing Enere McLaren-Taana

Fourth measles case in Wairarapa linked to overseas travel cluster

Fourth measles case in Wairarapa linked to overseas travel cluster

11 Jul 04:28 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search