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Fears for safety of Queensland parking inspectors

FIRST ON 7: There are fears Brisbane City Council parking inspectors will face a rise in verbal and physical abuse following the introduction of new parking laws. Photo: AAP

FIRST ON 7: There are fears Brisbane City Council parking inspectors will face a rise in verbal and physical abuse following the introduction of new parking laws.

The new concerns are prompting calls for council officers to be fitted with cameras so run-ins with angry drivers can be recorded and used as evidence in court.

Confronting video obtained by 7News through Right To Information legislation provides a rare and ugly insight into the job.

Inspectors are often seen by drivers as being overzealous but councils are sticking with their message: the law is the law.

The technology would allow for altercations to be captured by cameras on the body, similar to those used by traffic police, task force maxima officers and the Queensland's crack police unit SERT.

It would also allow for irrefutable evidence to be provided to a court - but it's not being adopted in Brisbane.

"We should be looking at other council areas to see what works and how we can support and help our council officers," said Councillor Milton Dick of the Brisbane City Council.

But Ben Swan from the Australian Workers Union says parking inspectors need more protection.

"Our members get confronted daily with, in some cases, very irate motorists who infringe against council regulations."