Latest news with #Preacher
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Underworld: The inside story of how police brought down corrupt baggage handlers smuggling drugs through Auckland Airport
Romney Fukofuka, also known as the musician Konecs, was caught with 20kg of methamphetamine inside Auckland airport during the 2020 Covid lockdown. Photo / Jared Savage But Fukofuka freaked out. 'I was high and there was a lot going on in my head. I thought people were watching me. There was a cop standing around. I was scared and didn't want to go to jail in the States,' he told me. 'So I panicked and took it on the plane with me.' He took his seat on the plane and, under the username KingofHELL, sent the following encrypted messages to the Air New Zealand baggage handler with the username Preacher, who, despite not being rostered to work, drove into the Air New Zealand staff carpark at 3.58am. KINGOFHELL: Toko [Bro] man I made a mistake. KINGOFHELL: Toko I carry the kato [bag] with me on board instead of putting at bulk. PREACHER: Toko f*** man. Plan B was hastily made. Once he disembarked flight NZ1 at Auckland International Airport and cleared the immigration line, Fukofuka was supposed to put the drug-laden suitcase back onto the luggage carousel. Once the bag went back through to the loading zone, Preacher's crew of Air NZ baggage handlers could safely remove it from the airport, as in the original plan. However, after clearing immigration, Fukofuka went into the toilets and sent messages to his partner. 6.09am: I'm fucked 6.09am: I'm in toilet 6.09am: Heaps of cops Sese Vimahi, a former Auckland Airport employee who oversaw a group of corrupt baggage handlers smuggling methamphetamine into New Zealand, appears via audio-video feed at Auckland District Court. Photo / Dean Purcell As he exited the toilets to put the suitcase onto the luggage conveyor belt, an officer from Customs asked Fukofuka to come with him to the search area. The suitcase was opened. Nothing was inside except two plastic bags weighing a total of 19.4 kilograms, which testing later confirmed as methamphetamine with a purity of 80 per cent. 'I tried to say, 'I thought it was shoes',' Fukofuka told me, 'but I knew I was fucked.' He was arrested, and the subsequent investigation, Operation Santana, led to five Air New Zealand baggage handlers, including Preacher, being charged with various drug-importing offences. Preacher's real name was Sese Vimahi, a church-going youth leader who was soon released on bail. But instead of cleaning up his act, Vimahi brazenly used his freedom to carry on smuggling drugs for Aisake Feleti using an identical modus operandi, according to the Threema messages uncovered by Operation Worthington. Now in the hands of the police, the encrypted messages were so blatant. There were thousands for the police to comb through, and here's just one example: 'I got 9 in the bag for the next one took,' Wiseman wrote to Feleti on February 16, 2021. He followed up with photos of three vacuum-sealed plastic bags of white crystals on a bathroom vanity, then of the drugs placed inside a grey backpack. The message about '9 in the bag' clearly meant 9kg of methamphetamine, with Feleti telling Wiseman that each kilogram would sell for between $175,000 and $180,000. Methamphetamine was placed inside a backpack to be sent to Auckland on a flight from Los Angeles. He also told Wiseman that Vimahi had visited the airport crew and they wanted to keep 2kg as their fee for assisting with the importation. Vimahi was a blood cousin, Feleti explained to Wiseman, and could be trusted as he was not a gangster but a 'kurupt Churchie man'. Over the next few weeks, Wiseman and Feleti kept making arrangements for the drug import, which eventually landed in Auckland at 7.19am on flight NZ5 from Los Angeles on March 4, 2021. The grey backpack was removed from the airport by a crew of Air NZ baggage handlers, unidentified at this stage, and at 8.58am Feleti advised Wiseman that the meth had been safely delivered. A little over a week later, Feleti sent Wiseman a video of a large amount of cash inside a duffel bag: $1,130,000. Some customers had yet to pay, he told Wiseman, but he would send the cash overseas as soon as possible. It was the same bag of cash that Feleti would be seen handing to the Asian money launderer in the supermarket carpark a week later. The Threema messages on Feleti's phone were an absolute treasure trove of evidence, which gave the police chapter and verse on how the syndicate was still able to operate. These messages triggered a new investigation, Operation Selena, which revealed that Sese Vimahi, despite losing his job, still retained close ties to a number of Air NZ baggage handlers at the airport. This was because the handlers caught through Romney Fukofuka's bungling was a crew hastily cobbled together while Vimahi's 'A Team' was unavailable. The police had been unable to identify them at the time, but the Threema messages revealed Puapii Mokotua, Soane Mataele and Misipele Tofilau were directed by Vimahi – whom they referred to as 'Tongan Pablo' – to pick up several meth imports, of at least 10kg each, in baggage stowed on flights from LAX in February and March 2021. They split $200,000 for each successful job, but the cost of having a 'door' into New Zealand was more than worth it for Feleti: he was happy to make $30,000 to $40,000 profit on each kilogram sold. And while he was easily able to import drugs by air, Operation Selena discovered Feleti was also able to get drugs by sea. The Threema chats showed he was in regular contact with Ronnie Kivalu, who ran a business importing food from Tonga, called R&J Pacific Ltd. Looking back at the encrypted messages, it was clear to the police that Kivalu had arranged for 7kg of methamphetamine to be concealed among frozen produce in a shipping container that left Tonga in late March 2021. When the shipping container was offloaded at the Port of Auckland in April, Kivalu messaged Feleti to say the meth was almost ready to be picked up ('Morning yup latest tomorrow [fingers crossed emoji]') and to bring plastic ziplock bags for packaging. However, a few weeks later, Feleti messaged Kivalu to explain that the Tribesmen motorcycle gang had complained about the poor quality of the drugs, which was making them hard to sell. The emergence of another source of methamphetamine, by sea, was a lead that could not be ignored. So, while maintaining the surveillance of Vimahi and the Air NZ crew, a separate phase of the inquiry, Operation Schrute, was set up to focus on Ronnie Kivalu. Any freight consignments by R&J Pacific Ltd were flagged with Customs, an action which paid off immediately with the next shipment aboard the Liloa II, which docked at Auckland on July 30, 2021. Among the 477 bags of frozen cassava, taro and kava powder was a single white vinyl sack, which raised the suspicions of Customs officials. Inside the sack were two black duffel bags, both padlocked, filled with plastic ziplock bags wrapped in white electrical tape. Inside were ice-like crystals, which testing confirmed to be meth. The total weight was nearly 30kg. While Kivalu's fingerprints were metaphorically all over the methamphetamine, more evidence was needed to prove his involvement. The Operation Schrute detectives made a strategic decision to do a 'controlled delivery' of the shipment, where the bags were carefully repacked with rock salt (a placebo replacement) and delivered to their destination as if nothing had been found. Watching patiently could lead to Kivalu being caught red-handed, not to mention anyone else he was working with. On August 6, 2021, the container was transported to a freight-forwarding company called EIF International Ltd, an import broker used by R&J Pacific Ltd. One of the storemen there was a man called Nooroa Rairi, who was responsible for the oversight of the EIF warehouse in Wiri on a day-to-day basis. He was also accredited with the Ministry for Primary Industries, which checks imports of food for pests or diseases, and was in charge of unpacking shipping containers for inspection. Three days later, at 5.01pm, Rairi quietly removed the white vinyl sack from the container at EIF, put it in the back of his car and drove home to a property in Windrush Close, Māngere. About two hours later, undercover surveillance staff watched as a silver Volkswagen Golf arrived at the same address. The driver was Ralph Vuletic, who had previously made headlines as a high-flying property developer convicted of Serious Fraud Office charges nearly a decade earlier. Vuletic was seen taking two duffel bags to a storage lockup in West Auckland. He then returned the next day to retrieve the bags and took them to Kivalu's house in Mt Wellington. A few hours later, police raided the property. Officers found disposable gloves, electronic scales and a large amount of ziplock bags in the garage, along with the 30kg of drug placebo. Kivalu was arrested, but two other men managed to escape by jumping over the back fence. The pair were tracked down and identified as the Iuvale twins, Nigel and Tony, who were patched members of the King Cobra gang. Before they had been interrupted, the brothers and Kivalu had been busy breaking down the methamphetamine into smaller amounts for resale. More than $500,000 cash was discovered when Operation Selena arrested 24 people for smuggling drugs through Auckland International Airport, including gang members and Air NZ baggage handlers. Back at Vuletic's storage unit, police found 5kg of meth in gold Chinese tea packets – a signature of Sam Gor, an organised crime syndicate in Asia that dominates the global drug trade. Another kilogram of meth was found in Vuletic's home, along with a pistol. Although it was a side hustle to the main investigation, Operation Schrute was a success in its own right. The investigation had locked up two senior members of an influential Auckland gang, quickly uncovered Ronnie Kivalu's drug-smuggling route, but most importantly, uncovered 'insider threats' working unseen at the borders of both New Zealand and Tonga. Nooroa Rairi was not a hardened criminal (he was to be paid $30,000 for his assistance) and was the first to admit everything. At the other end, in Tonga, Kama Manulevu was identified as the person who, acting on Ronnie Kivalu's instructions, was able to hide the 30kg of methamphetamine among the frozen vegetables. The 45-year-old became the first person in Tonga to be sentenced to a mandatory life imprisonment under tough new drugs laws. But the job wasn't finished yet. The sudden appearance of the Iuvale twins in Operation Schrute was most intriguing to Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Hunt and Detective Sergeant Scott Foster, the officers running Operation Selena. They would soon be the focus of a third phase of the investigation, which, again with a little luck, stumbled across a completely different crew of corrupt Air NZ baggage handlers. Former airport employee Tungane Manuel in the High Court at Auckland for the start of the Operation Selena methamphetamine importation trial. Photo / Jason Oxenham While building their case against Sese Vimahi's network at Auckland International Airport, police intercepted a series of phone calls about a flight from Los Angeles landing on August 2, 2021. A backpack holding 5kg of meth was onboard, so the 'A Team' of Mataele, Mokotua and Tofilau made plans to get the illicit luggage out of the airport, just as they had done so many times before. However, unbeknown to the trio – and police – another Air NZ baggage handler nearly beat them to the punch. Although he wasn't rostered to work that day, Martin Pritchard tried to uplift the backpack from the plane on the pretext that the luggage needed to be transferred to a domestic flight. Recognising that Pritchard was not authorised to be there, another Air NZ staff member asked him to leave and reported their suspicions to management. He was immediately suspended, but the unexpected appearance of another dodgy baggage handler, who was not previously on the radar of Operation Selena, required further investigation. A third phase of the inquiry was opened, which uncovered a rival crew of Air NZ baggage handlers smuggling drugs into the country, completely independently of Vimahi's network. Analysis of Pritchard's phone records identified the ringleader of the baggage handlers as Matangi Piukana, who was passing on instructions to Pritchard and other members of their group. Working backwards, detectives were also able to pinpoint several previous successful importations of drugs, on a commercial scale far larger than what could fit in a backpack. One of these, on July 31, 2021, was 118kg of methamphetamine stowed in a Malaysian Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur. Security cameras at the airport captured Pritchard driving an Air NZ van from the domestic side of the airport, where he worked, to the international tarmac. He parked underneath the rear wing of the plane, then picked up three boxes which had been unloaded by another baggage handler, Tungane Manuel. Pritchard put the boxes in the van, then drove to where his late-model Audi was parked, and transferred the boxes of methamphetamine into the back of his car. The drugs were then supplied to an unidentified dealer. By cross-referencing intercepted messages, flight manifests and security-camera footage at the airport, Operation Selena was able to work out that there had been at least two other earlier drug imports which had used an identical smuggling method. The ongoing surveillance on Matangi Piukana, who was regularly heard talking about 'the usos' (brothers), eventually led police full circle, right back to Nigel Iuvale. The King Cobra had been arrested on the Operation Schrute charges, but by September had been released on bail with an ankle bracelet. Iuvale was, however, allowed to leave the address to buy groceries. It was on one of those approved shopping trips, on October 10, 2021, at the Gilmours supermarket in Mt Roskill, that he was seen with Piukana, who by that stage the police believed was a prolific drug importer. They spent 45 minutes together, loading up their trolleys in the aisles and talking. No one could hear their conversation, but the significance of the meeting soon became clear. Three minutes after the friends went their separate ways, Piukana called Tungane Manuel to discuss his work roster. He asked Manuel if he wanted to come 'pick it up', meaning a $26,000 payment, before providing his home address. Over the coming days, Piukana also contacted two other baggage handlers – his brother Kimela and Tokofa Toroma – to discuss an impending shipment from Malaysia. A week later, Matangi Piukana called Manuel to confirm 'so Saturday's a green light' for the Malaysian Airways flight to arrive. Piukana asked Manuel to confirm, when he got back to work, what time the flight would be landing. Manuel thought MH145 normally arrived between 1pm and 2pm. On the morning of October 23, 2021, the four baggage handlers started their shifts at Auckland International Airport. At 6.42am, Manuel messaged Matangi Piukana to say: 'Kuz. 82. Across from gate 2″. This was where flight MH145 was scheduled to park upon arrival. Four hours later, Piukana messaged Manuel to 'cancel', and to call when he was free. In a subsequent phone call, he told Manuel that 'it didn't make it on'. What the baggage handlers didn't know yet was that Malaysian police had examined MH145 before departure and located a 'commercial quantity' of methamphetamine (reported in the local media as 200kg) concealed within bags of Chinese tea wrapped in green or gold foil. Of note to Operation Selena, the Malaysian meth was packaged identically to the 5kg discovered in Ralph Vuletic's storage locker two months earlier. The following month, police raided 20 addresses in Auckland, arrested 24 people and seized more than $500,000 in cash. The most significant pieces of new evidence discovered during these searches, however, were not drugs, guns or cash but some innocent messages found on the iPhone belonging to Nigel Iuvale's new girlfriend. Police and Customs said the investigation had exposed how organised crime recruited 'insiders' in the supply chain, to circumvent security and border processes. 'Businesses know what their normal looks like – by reporting suspect shipments, situations or interactions to Customs, they can help to build further intelligence and stop cross-border crimes," said Bruce Berry, Customs' intelligence manager. 'We continue to work closely with industry, including across airports and ports, who have been very cooperative with such investigations.' Air New Zealand had 'zero tolerance' for such offending, said Captain David Morgan, the airline's chief operational integrity and safety officer. 'Organised crime impacts many parts of the community, and we don't want it in our workplace. We will continue to work closely with Police, Customs and other relevant agencies to help stamp it out.' Nigel Iuvale in the High Court at Auckland at the start of the Operation Selena trial. He was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine for supply, and conspiring to import a commercial quantity of the drug from Malaysia. Photo / Jason Oxenham Operation Selena had been an eye-opening experience even for experienced investigators. There had long been rumours about corruption at Auckland International Airport, but neither of them could believe the scale that the investigation had uncovered, or the ridiculous ease with which the drug syndicates had been able to circumvent border security. It was so simple that it was genius. With hindsight, it had clearly been going on at Auckland International Airport for years. The investigation could be considered a success because the detectives had managed to push past the baggage handlers, who were really just pawns acting out of greed or desperation, and into the 'management team' of competing organised crime groups. In particular, nailing Nigel Iuvale (jailed for 18 years for playing a major role in the scheme) had made all the hard work worthwhile. If they hadn't, the King Cobra would have simply started again with a new team of underlings. Saying that, the National Organised Crime Group wasn't so foolish as to think they'd rooted out all the bad apples at the airport; they knew there were other 'doors' into the country which they hadn't yet identified. It wasn't long before another insider threat at Auckland International Airport was exposed through New Zealand's biggest meth bust. Underworld: The new era of gangs in New Zealand, by Jared Savage. Underworld: The new era of gangs in New Zealand by Jared Savage is out on July 29 via HarperCollins. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. Based in Bay of Plenty, he joined the Herald in 2006 and has won a dozen journalism awards in that time, including twice being named Reporter of the Year. He is also the author of Gangland, Gangster's Paradise and Underworld.
North Wales Live
12-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Banned baby names in the UK: Real cases when parents were told 'no' and why
Parents in the UK usually have the liberty to name their offspring as they please but there are stringent regulations in place to prevent certain names from ever appearing on a birth certificate, according to the UK Deed Poll Office. The objective is to shield children from possible harm, mockery, or confusion, and to maintain official records that are clear and consistent. While the UK doesn't have an official list of proscribed baby names it doesn't mean there aren't existing guidelines, reports the Mirror. The UK Deed Poll Office notes that names may be declined for reasons such as: Inclusion of insulting language or profanity Use of symbols, numbers, or punctuation Excessive length or difficulty in pronunciation Potential to cause deception by using titles like King or Doctor Any names considered inappropriate or against public decency Simply put anything that might result in a child being subjected to bullying, derision, or mistaken for a healthcare professional could be ruled out. Instances of real names that didn't make the cut There have been notable cases where baby names have been turned down in the UK, including: Cyanide – Prohibited for its connection with poison. Martian – Discarded due to potential mockery. King – Refused as it may imply a title. Princess – Similarly blocked for its capacity to mislead. The UK Deed Poll Office website states: "While we don't have an official list of banned names we assess applications on a case-by-case basis and names that could cause a child harm or confusion will likely be rejected." Countries around the globe are cracking down on extreme baby names. The UK is joined by New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland in setting boundaries for baby naming. New Zealand has prohibited names like Lucifer, 4Real, and Anal while Germany has made names such as "Adolf Hitler" and "Osama Bin Laden" illegal. A notable case in the UK involved a mother who chose the names Cyanide and Preacher for her twins. The courts permitted Preacher but denied Cyanide. The UK Deed Poll Office explained that the name Cyanide was considered "inappropriate and harmful" due to its association with a lethal poison. Should a baby's name be rejected by the General Register Office or local registrar parents are required to pick an alternative. Official documents like birth certificates and passports are withheld until an acceptable name is provided. Read about a Welsh woman left unable to get a passport after legally changing her name to Pudsey Bear. The UK Deed Poll Office cautions that even registered names can face legal challenges if they're later deemed to contravene regulations, especially where the child's welfare is concerned. How to choose a name that is both legal and unique requires careful consideration. According to guidance from the UK Deed Poll Office, parents should:
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Banned baby names in the UK: Real cases when parents were told 'no' and why
Banned baby names in the UK: Real cases when parents were told 'no' and why While parents in the UK generally have the freedom to choose any name they like for their child there are a number of rules in place that mean certain names will never make it onto a birth certificate Parents in the UK usually have the liberty to name their offspring as they please but there are stringent regulations in place to prevent certain names from ever appearing on a birth certificate, according to the UK Deed Poll Office. The objective is to shield children from possible harm, mockery, or confusion, and to maintain official records that are clear and consistent. While the UK doesn't have an official list of proscribed baby names it doesn't mean there aren't existing guidelines, reports the Mirror. The UK Deed Poll Office notes that names may be declined for reasons such as: Inclusion of insulting language or profanity Use of symbols, numbers, or punctuation Excessive length or difficulty in pronunciation Potential to cause deception by using titles like King or Doctor Any names considered inappropriate or against public decency Simply put anything that might result in a child being subjected to bullying, derision, or mistaken for a healthcare professional could be ruled out. Instances of real names that didn't make the cut There have been notable cases where baby names have been turned down in the UK, including: Cyanide – Prohibited for its connection with poison. Martian – Discarded due to potential mockery. King – Refused as it may imply a title. Princess – Similarly blocked for its capacity to mislead. Article continues below The UK Deed Poll Office website states: "While we don't have an official list of banned names we assess applications on a case-by-case basis and names that could cause a child harm or confusion will likely be rejected." Countries around the globe are cracking down on extreme baby names. The UK is joined by New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland in setting boundaries for baby naming. New Zealand has prohibited names like Lucifer, 4Real, and Anal while Germany has made names such as "Adolf Hitler" and "Osama Bin Laden" illegal. A notable case in the UK involved a mother who chose the names Cyanide and Preacher for her twins. The courts permitted Preacher but denied Cyanide. The UK Deed Poll Office explained that the name Cyanide was considered "inappropriate and harmful" due to its association with a lethal poison. Should a baby's name be rejected by the General Register Office or local registrar parents are required to pick an alternative. Official documents like birth certificates and passports are withheld until an acceptable name is provided. Read about a Welsh woman left unable to get a passport after legally changing her name to Pudsey Bear. The UK Deed Poll Office cautions that even registered names can face legal challenges if they're later deemed to contravene regulations, especially where the child's welfare is concerned. How to choose a name that is both legal and unique requires careful consideration. According to guidance from the UK Deed Poll Office, parents should: Avoid offensive or rude language Refrain from using symbols or numbers in names Opt for a short and easy-to-spell name Avoid assigning official titles such as Lord or Sir Article continues below For those uncertain about their choices the Deed Poll Office provides ample resources and support to assist families in making suitable decisions.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Daily Record
Banned UK baby names and six reasons why they are outlawed including 'vulgar' titles
The UK doesn't have an official list of banned baby names, but there are several rules that parents must follow Choosing a baby name is one of life's toughest decisions. Some parents may opt for traditional titles while others will go for the kooky, eccentric, and 'out there' options. But if you are the latter and live in the UK, issues could arise. While parents typically have the freedom to name their offspring whatever they like, the UK Deed Police Office details certain strict guidelines to ensure some names will never appear on a birth certificate. The objective? To shield kids from possible harm, mockery, or confusion - and to ensure official documents remain clear and uniform. So, which monikers are actually off-limits? There's no published roster of prohibited names in the UK. However, that doesn't imply an absence of regulations, reports the Mirror. As per the UK Deed Poll Office, names could be declined for several reasons: Containing profanity or vulgar terms. Incorporating symbols, digits, or punctuations. Being excessively lengthy or tricky to articulate. Having the potential to deceive, such as rank labels like "King" or professional titles like "Doctor". Being judged unsuitable or in conflict with public norms. In essence, anything that might subject a kid to ridicule, teasing, or mistaken identity could be vetoed. Examples of names that got red-flagged - "Cyanide" – Prohibited because of its toxic associations. - "Martian" – Axed over possible ridicule. - "King" – Disallowed due to its semblance to a titled role. - "Princess" – Also prevented for projecting a deceptive image. The UK Deed Poll Office website states: "While we don't have an official list of banned names, we assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and names that could cause a child harm or confusion will likely be rejected." A UK baby name drama emerged involving the names 'Cyanide,' as mentioned above, and 'Preacher'. The high-profile incident saw a mother try to name her twins 'Cyanide' and 'Preacher,' sparking huge debate among Brits. Eventually, the courts approved the name "Preacher" but barred the use of "Cyanide". The UK Deed Poll Office commented that Cyanide was deemed not suitable due to its strong association with poison and potential harm to the child's welfare. It comes amid a crackdown on controversial baby names worldwide. The UK is monitoring baby naming choices closely, and it is not alone. Countries such as New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland have also established regulations. New Zealand has put a stop to names like "Lucifer, "4Real," and "Anal". Similarly, Germany has specifically forbidden names like "Adolf Hitler" and "Osama Bin Laden." Should the General Register Office or a local registrar reject a given name in the UK, parents are required to settle on an alternative option. No birth certificates or passports are issued until an acceptable name is finalised. Parents are urged to heed the warning from the UK Deed Poll Office as names that fall foul of these standards can still face legal challenges after registration if they're found to compromise the child's well-being. To ensure that baby names are within legal boundaries, the UK Deed Poll Office recommends that parents follow certain guidelines: Refrain from using offensive or rude language. Exclude symbols or numbers. Opt for names that are short and simple to spell. Stay away from official titles such as "Lord" or "Sir". While the UK is quite permissive regarding baby names, there are still certain restrictions. These rules aim to protect children from potential harm and prevent confusion in official records, according to the Deed Poll Office. The Deed Poll Office also provides an array of resources and support for families needing assistance in choosing a suitable name. So, before you decide on a distinctive name for your new-born, check its legality, or find yourself in a sticky situation. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Banned baby names in the UK: full list of rules and cases where parents were told 'No'
Picking the perfect name for your baby can be one of the most exciting—and personal—decisions any parent makes. But in the UK, some names are strictly off-limits, and you might be surprised by what's not allowed. According to the UK Deed Poll Office, while mums and dads generally have the freedom to call their children whatever they like, a list of strict rules means certain names will never make it onto a birth certificate. The aim? To protect children from potential harm, ridicule, or confusion—and to make sure official documents stay clear and standardised. So What Names Are Actually Banned? The UK doesn't publish an official list of banned baby names, but that doesn't mean there aren't rules. The UK Deed Poll Office confirms names may be rejected if they: Include offensive language or obscenity Contain symbols, numbers or punctuation marks Are too long or hard to pronounce Might mislead people, such as titles like 'King' or 'Doctor' Are deemed inappropriate or against public policy In plain terms: anything that might get a child bullied, laughed at, or confused with a medical professional could be off the table. There have already been some headline-grabbing cases of baby names being rejected in the UK. These include: 'Cyanide' – Banned for its direct link to poison 'Martian' – Scrapped due to concerns about ridicule 'King' – Rejected because it could be mistaken for a title 'Princess' – Also barred for giving a misleading impression The UK Deed Poll Office website says: 'While we don't have an official list of banned names, we assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and names that could cause a child harm or confusion will likely be rejected.' Global Crackdown on Extreme Baby Names The UK isn't the only country keeping an eye on the baby name trend. Other nations including New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland have drawn similar lines in the sand. In New Zealand, names like 'Lucifer,' '4Real,' and 'Anal' have all been banned, while Germany has outlawed names such as 'Adolf Hitler' and 'Osama Bin Laden.' The Twins Named 'Cyanide' and 'Preacher' One of the UK's most talked-about baby name controversies involved a mother who wanted to call her newborn twins 'Cyanide' and 'Preacher.' While the courts allowed 'Preacher' to stand, 'Cyanide' was blocked. The UK Deed Poll Office said the decision was based on the fact that Cyanide is known primarily as a deadly poison, making it 'inappropriate and harmful.' What Happens If Your Baby's Name Gets Rejected? If the General Register Office or local registrar refuses a baby name, parents must choose a different one. Birth certificates and even passports won't be issued until a compliant name is selected. The UK Deed Poll Office warns that even after registration, names that are found to breach the rules can be challenged in court—particularly if they affect the child's welfare. How to Pick a Name That's Legal and Unique To stay on the right side of the law, the UK Deed Poll Office advises that parents: Avoid offensive or rude language Don't include symbols or numbers Keep it short and easy to spell Steer clear of official titles like 'Lord' or 'Sir' And if you're not sure, the Deed Poll Office offers plenty of resources and support to help families make the right call. Final Thoughts While the UK remains fairly liberal when it comes to baby names, not everything goes. The restrictions, say experts at the UK Deed Poll Office, are all about protecting kids from harm and avoiding chaos in official documents. So if you're thinking about giving your baby a unique name—just make sure it's legal first.
