Please attribute to Acting Senior Sergeant Lisa Woodward, Auckland City Police.
Last week Police arrested an Auckland woman who had been illegally altering drivers’ licence details for high school students.
Police believe this was being done with the intention to provide false identification to gain entry into Auckland bars and clubs.
Police Alcohol Harm Prevention Units around the country work closely with licenced premises and security to minimise alcohol related harm in our communities. Preventing minors from illegally entering licensed premises is one part of this.
The deliberate actions of this offender has put large numbers of young people, including 16 and 17 year old students, at potential risk of harm and Police have identified a number of others during their investigations who will be spoken to.
Police would like to remind our community, students especially, that it is a criminal offence to alter an official identification document, and it is also illegal to present a forged document. Minors found using altered identification or using someone else’s identification are subject to are subject to prosecution.
Police urge parents to be aware of the identification students are using and if they have concerns they should talk to their teenagers and explain it is a criminal offence to present an altered document.
Police will be working with schools across Auckland to highlight to students the risks associated with creating, purchasing or using altered or fake identification.
For parents concerned about their children and alcohol, whether related to altered false identification or otherwise, your local Police are available to provide advice and support and information and resources are also available at www.alcohol.org.nz.
If you have information on altered or fake identification, please contact your local police station or alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
An 18 year old woman has been charged with a fraud related offence and will appear in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday, 22 May 2018.
As the matter is before the courts police are not able to comment further.
ENDS
Monique Caddy/NZ Police