We’ve all heard of sleeping policemen. But have you ever heard of see-through policemen – and women, for that matter?

Last week I was on duty in court and while prowling the corridors for stories, I came across a number of constables who were either sniggering or moaning. I realised that something was up, so I set off to sniff out the rat.

Waiting in the courtroom for a particular sitting to start, I finally found out what it was all about. A police inspector asked a colleague: “Did you pick up your see-through shorts and T-shirt?” The other just shook and hung his head.

I thought to myself, what on earth are they on about. I’ll spare you the details of the story hunt. It turns out that in an effort to bolster seriously flagging morale, the powers that be decided that a spot of exercise would do the trick. So, every officer in Malta and Gozo has been issued with a pair of shorts and T-shirt.

Well, apparently, when you hold them up to the light, they are transparent. Not only that, but when I pried further, I found out that the officers were not required to take a class organised by the Corps itself. No… they are to do it in their own free time. Just ask a few officers, particularly inspectors, if they have any free time.

You will get the casual “tut-tut” for an answer. In fact, about half the inspectors who were in court that day were “off duty”. Yes, they were off duty. Police inspectors are obliged to go to court when their cases come up (which may or may not be heard, depending on whether who and what and why turns up), and it is something they are not best pleased with.

In fact, other sources told me that a top brass memo had recently been issued telling officers to take their leave entitlement, as too much was piling up. Standard practice. Yet, when they do apply for leave, they are more often than not told that they cannot take it because they are short staffed. It’s a Catch 22 situation.

I was also told that a good number of officers decided to send a letter to the top brass to inform them of these developments, but that’s as far as I got.

So, back to the snazzy shorts and T-shirts. Apparently, the material is so inferior that they are see-through not only when wet with perspiration, but even when dry.

I wonder if any of them will use their “free time” to exercise – and if so, will they use the kit they’ve been given.

Now that would be a sight wouldn’t it – a police officer being booked for indecent exposure!