# Fake police officer? Personating one is a crime.

> Pretending to hold a public office and acting under its colour is personating a public servant under section 170 PPC, up to 2 years, or fine, or both. Just wearing a uniform or token so people believe you are one is section 171, up to 3 months.

- Topic: Criminal law
- For: Citizens
- A 12-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/fake-police-officer-personating-one-is-a-crime
- Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-22

## Myth or fact?

What people often think.

- **Myth: Wearing a police uniform is fine if no money is taken.**
- **Fact: Wearing the garb of public servants, so that people believe you are one, is an offence by itself (PPC s.171).**

## The law.

Section 170, PPC.

> "Whoever, pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both." (Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 170)

## Two offences.

Sections 170 and 171, PPC.

- **Personating, s.170** Pretending to hold a public office, and acting or trying to act under its colour.
- **Garb or token, s.171** Wearing a uniform or carrying a token like theirs, so people believe it.

## How serious?

The prison terms.

- **Section 170** Up to 2 years, or fine, or both.
- **Section 171** Up to 3 months, or fine, or both.

## Quick quiz. The checkpoint.

Guess first, then swipe for the answer.

- **A. s.170 only**
- **B. s.171 only**
- **C. Both may apply**

## Answer: C. Both may apply.

Two acts, two sections.

- **The demand** Acting under colour of the office he pretends to hold: s.170.
- **The jacket** Wearing the garb so you believe he is police: s.171.

## Police can act fast.

CrPC Schedule II.

- **Section 170** May arrest without warrant. Warrant case. Bailable. Not compoundable.
- **Section 171** May arrest without warrant. Summons case. Bailable. Not compoundable.

## Check before you comply.

Stay calm and stay safe.

- **Ask** Name, rank and police station.
- **Note** The vehicle number, the place and the time.
- **Confirm** Call 15 and ask if the officer is real.

## What to do.

Three steps, in this order.

- **Record** Face, badge, vehicle number, witnesses.
- **Call 15** Personating is cognizable (Schedule II, s.170).
- **FIR** At the police station, under CrPC s.154.

## Stopped by a fake?

Ask FAI in your own words. It answers with the exact section and the judgments behind it.

- **Someone posing as police took money from my brother. Which sections apply?**
- **What is the punishment for personating a public servant under section 170 PPC?**

## Sources

- Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 170: Personating a public servant

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