Disrespect towards police officers could be a reflection of the way children were being brought up, the Church’s Pastoral Commission for Work said yesterday.

The commission said it was noticing an increase in cases where police officers were not allowed to do their job and were even assaulted or insulted. While expressing support to the police, it said such attacks diminished the respect towards the police authorities, public order and the law.

Sometimes, complaints might be justified, however, people should be reminded about the other side of the coin when it came to the police, the commission said.

“Think of the hours they work, which, most often, are irregular. Let’s remember that police work is tiring and they have to deal with people’s problems.

“Policemen cannot fulfil their role on their own and they need the support of government and legal authorities so they can be protected from abuse while at work,” it said. The commission asked whether such lack of respect was a result of the disciplinary formation children were being given.

“Are these worrying cases a result of the way children are being disciplined at home or at schools?”

In today’s world, the moment one mentioned the word discipline one was likely to come under fire by some quarters arguing that discipline restricted the individual, it added.