Brussels police told not to visit brothels and drink whilst on duty

Police patrolling the red-light district of the Belgian capital have been ordered to stop visiting brothels and drinking in bars when on duty.

A letter sent to officers in Brussels' northern police district, and published in a Belgian daily on Tuesday, urged them to set a good example and earn the public's respect.

"These officers think their duty hours are to be used to drink alcohol in bars, practice sports..., visit brothels or massage parlours, and entertain (intimate) relationships with residents of the neighbourhood during their patrol," said the letter from a local police chief.

"It is only by setting a good example that the police can make itself respected," the letter said, urging officers to adopt more conservative behaviour.

A police spokesman confirmed the letter was authentic, but said the police chief had only reacted to rumours of officers behaving badly while on duty.