Police Act 1996

90 Impersonation, etc.E+W

(1)Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is such a member or constable, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.

(2)Any person who, not being a constable, wears any article of police uniform in circumstances where it gives him an appearance so nearly resembling that of a member of a police force as to be calculated to deceive shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3)Any person who, not being a member of a police force or special constable, has in his possession any article of police uniform shall, unless he proves that he obtained possession of that article lawfully and has possession of it for a lawful purpose, be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

(4)In this section—

(a)“article of police uniform” means any article of uniform or any distinctive badge or mark or document of identification usually issued to members of police forces or special constables, or anything having the appearance of such an article, badge, mark or document,

[F1(ab)“member of a police force” includes a member of the staff of the National Policing Improvement Agency who is a constable, and]

(b)“special constable” means a special constable appointed for a police area.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 90(4)(ab) substituted for s. 90(4)(aa) (1.4.2007) by virtue of Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 1 para. 70; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(a) (with art. 6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 90 applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), s. 68(2)(3); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(yy)