Man jailed after posing as police officer to rob taxi passenger in Edenbridge

A man who falsely presented himself as a police officer, stopped a taxi in Edenbridge and stole a designer watch from a passenger has been sentenced to a custodial term following a Kent Police investigation.

Kent Police announced that the offender had been jailed after stopping a taxi in Edenbridge, in the Sevenoaks District, and stealing a designer watch from a passenger by impersonating a police officer.

According to Kent Police, the man made the taxi pull over, falsely presented himself as a police officer to the victim and took the watch. The specific brand and value of the stolen item have not been publicly confirmed by the force.

Impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence under the Police Act 1996, which prohibits wearing or using any article of police uniform or otherwise representing oneself as an officer. Courts treat the use of a false police identity to support theft or robbery as an aggravating factor, on the basis that it exploits public trust in law enforcement.

Key information

Anyone stopped by a person claiming to be a police officer who has doubts about their identity can ask to see a warrant card and, if still uncertain, call 999 to verify.
Taxi and private hire drivers in Kent with concerns about roadside stops can contact Kent Police on 101 for non-emergency advice.

Source: @kent_police

Published: 28 August 2026