Police chic

2003-02-18 15:33

Cape Town - A man was arrested in Paarl near Cape Town on Tuesday after being found accoutred in full police uniform, with captain's rank insignia and a police radio, Boland police said.

Captain William Reid said the man was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with impersonating a police officer.

He said the man allegedly wandered into the public order police's offices and requested to be taken to Worcester.

However, other police officers became suspicious with the man's behaviour. According to Reid the impersonator was asked "are you really a police officer", whereupon he started quarrelling.

The impersonator left and was later traced to the Paarl police college.

Reid said the circumstances of the man getting hold of the uniform and radio were being investigated, as well as if the man could be linked to any other incidents where police impersonators were involved.

"The public has the right to ask any police officer whether in uniform or not for identification, and can even refuse to comply with an order if this is not produced," Reid said.

- SAPA