Highest bid will own police patch

A new police patch is being auctioned on internet site eBay, with a bid last night at $13.25.

The patch, which went up for auction last week, is being sold from Adelaide, with a start bid of just over $5.

Almost six months ago, a police cap was removed from the eBay site and returned to New Zealand police after the organisation expressed concerns that such items could be used by people posing as police officers.

In 2001, triple murderer William Bell walked into the Panmure RSA wearing a police officer's shirt and murdered three staff members.

Items of uniform and equipment remain the property of police and must be returned when staff leave the force.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said if the patch was being sold by an officer who had cut it off the uniform, "then they need to be very wary, because they will be committing an offence".

Assistant Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the patch could have come from a presentation pack that was produced by police and included a shoulder patch. Police officers worldwide traded patches.

"We are more worried about people who wear our uniforms and purport to be a police officer. That is extremely serious," he said.

"But this international trade of patches, we know it exists. I am not concerned about it. I don't think it is anything sinister."