Police officers have complained about feeling humiliated after being forced to wear what they consider to be inappropriate attire for their physical training exercises.

The Police Commissioner's latest instruction forces them to wear their official T-shirts and shorts over their own tracksuits, which they think makes them look plain silly - especially as they can often be seen jogging or walking along the Valletta ring road and are clearly identifiable since the word 'Pulizija' is emblazoned on their clothing.

"We look ridiculous and it feels awkward when passers-by are staring at us," one police offer told The Sunday Times.

The issue dates back to last summer when the Commissioner ordered officers to wear the official black shorts and white T-shirts when they are undergoing the Police Academy's compulsory training programme. But officers complained they were not adequately dressed once the cold weather set in and some were forced to take days off work after falling ill.

One officer said that to make matters worse the shower facilities at the academy, housed in the dilapidated Fort St Elmo, were inadequate, which meant they had to put their uniforms on after exercising without having the opportunity to wash.

One described the state of the academy as "disastrous" since, besides the state of the showers, corridors to the lecture rooms were flooded whenever it rained.

Following several complaints, the Commissioner last week agreed to the officers' requests to wear clothing that was more appropriate for the winter months - but instead of being furnished with official police track suits, they were told they may wear their personal tracksuits under the official shorts and T-shirts.

When contacted, the police's media relations unit insisted that all showers at the academy were functioning properly and that maintenance work, if necessary, was carried out in the shortest possible time.

It also said plans for a new police academy at Ta' Kandja had already been drawn up and submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for approval. The police said that new official tracksuits had been ordered and were expected to be distributed to all officers in the coming weeks.

"As an interim measure, it was decided that during the physical exercises sessions at the academy, officers were given the option to wear other suitable sportswear, such as adequate sports pullovers and/or tights provided the official T-shirt and shorts are worn externally," the police said.