Daniel Knowles | From: The Sunday Mail (Qld) | April 10, 2010

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/fear-grips-off-duty-police/story-e6freon6-1225852188047

QUEENSLAND police officers are changing out of their uniforms for fear of being targeted while off duty on Brisbane trains.

According to an anonymous letter to the Queensland Police Union Journal, one officer complained that high-ranking officers were concerned uniformed police were hiding under plain shirts and jackets to avoid attention.

“Many of our members travel on public transport and often make use of a cover shirt in order to prevent harassment and possibly being assaulted by some of the undesirable passengers,” the letter says.

“I am also fully aware of the reason police wearing uniform on public transport is to provide a high visibility, however, with due respect to those who hold plain clothes positions and also utilise public transport, one has to question the validity of the high-visibility concept.

“Members work their required hours and as such should then be afforded the opportunity to travel home without having some grub, who probably doesn’t have a ticket, give them a hard time.”

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