Police forces in Hanoi have proposed the Government locally lift a ban that forbids traffic police officers throughout Vietnam from wearing dark sunglasses and dust masks, citing health risks.

Intimidating traffic police officers in Hanoi Photo: VnExpress

Colonel Tran Thuy, deputy director of Hanoi Police Department, told Tuoi Tre that his agency wants the ban lifted for certain traffic police officers posted and patrolling at heavily-polluted areas.

Thuy cited the Pham Van Dong – Pham Hung – Khuat Duy Tien belt in Hanoi as being enveloped in dusts, heats and vehicle exhausts and that traffic policemen on duty there have legal rights to protect themselves.

Banning police working at such places from wearing masks and sunglasses will expose them to respiratory and eye diseases, Thuy explained.

However, for those responsible for blowing whistles to monitor traffic, they still must not wear dust masks as this would hinder them from effectively sounding the whistles.

In May, the Ministry of Public Security issued an instruction banning police throughout Vietnam from wearing black sunglasses, from smoking, from reading books and from putting their hands into pockets while on duty at public places.

Besides, they are not allowed to chat, read books, make or answer phone calls not related to work.

Police officers are also not allowed to put their hands into their trousers’ or coats’ pockets when they are on duty patrolling the street, monitoring traffic or when they are in public places.

Also according to the May ban, they cannot eat at restaurants that illegally encroach onto the pavements.