TVNZ -- Auckland, New Zealand
A New Zealand police cap for sale on the American auction website eBay has been returned to police.
After hearing of concerns about the cap’s posting on the website, a Rotorua man passed the cap over to police on Monday.
Police superintendent Tony McLeod says the man is an avid collector of military and related memorabilia, and has owned the cap for several years.
McLeod says the man had no idea police uniforms could not be owned by anyone but the police, and he will not be charged.
The cap fetched a top bid of $US30 ($46), while a New Zealand police badge listed by an American-based seller had reached $US10.
As soon as eBay became aware of the problem they also contacted police. Police are discussing their concerns with the website over “authentic” looking New Zealand police uniform items being auctioned.
McLeod says police gear in the wrong hands can be deadly: “It could help them commit serious crimes.”
In 2001, triple murderer William Bell wore a police shirt when he walked into the Panmure RSA and murdered three staff members.
It is not illegal to sell police gear but it is illegal to have unauthorised uniforms, and using the gear to impersonate an officer can lead to three months jail.
Police believe auctioning police gear over the internet is a widespread problem. “There are literally thousands of sites you can trade items in, and there are probably other sites where there are probably similar uniform items for sale,” says Police Association spokesman Greg O’Connor.
Police say there is little they can do about stolen items, but they are reviewing policies for officers returning uniforms at the end of service.