Auckland police discover forged licence database

Auckland police have seized a computer they say contains the names of hundreds of 17-year-old students thought to have obtained forged driver licences.

Police said that after finding five North Shore students who were using the "plausible forged licences" they arrested a 17-year-old student, Marcus Lim, and seized his computer.

He has been charged with forgery.

Detective Sergeant James Watson said police have also arrested five other students for using forged driver licences.

Many other students who paid $100 for forged licences have been located by police over the past week.

Police said they were "almost exclusively" 17-year-old students from up to 15 Auckland schools.

Police said those students who were fully cooperative and whose only intention was to use the forgery to enter licenced premises had been formally cautioned. 

Those who were uncooperative were still being investigated.

Police were calling on students who received the forged licences to surrender them.

"We are encouraging them to come to their local police station or to contact the investigation team in order to hand the document over," Detective Sergeant James Watson said.

"It is illegal to use a forged document for any purpose."

Marcus Lim was remanded on bail and is due to reappear in the North Shore District Court on November 30.