It is a sad reflection on our society that this inalienable right is all too often violated and good people, who are just doing their jobs, are placed at risk.

Police officers have long been in the firing line as they deal with men and women who do not take kindly to having been caught out crossing to the wrong side of the law.

But it seems that an increasing number of people think that employees in other professions are fair game when it comes to challenging their authority.

Doctors and nurses in our emergency departments are frequently exposed to violent behaviour at the hands of drug and alcohol-addled patients.

Likewise paramedics, who are the first port of call whenever injury or illness strikes, have to deal with the constant threat of abuse while working.

The latest profession to join the ranks of the unfairly targetted is parking inspectors, with Campaspe Shire Council fitting its compliance staff with body cameras.

The council was prompted to make the decision to use the cameras after it became concerned at several incidents of abuse directed towards its staff members.

The cameras are able to record any and all instances of threatening or abusive behaviour.

It is hoped that not only will the cameras assist in prosecuting instances of violence or intimidation, but prove to be a deterrent to anyone tempted to overstep the line of decency.

Nothing betrays a person’s emotional immaturity quite like going crook at a parking inspector who has just issued them with a ticket.

With very, very few exceptions – far less than some people will have you believe – compliance around parking rules and regulations is a black and white issue.

If you overstay your welcome, or refuse to pay in the first place, or park where you should not, then you expose yourself to the possibility that you will be caught and fined.

Parking inspectors have a job to do and anyone who has ever struggled to find a park in town will recognise and respect this.

You might think they are just there to collect revenue for the council, but those are the rules and we must all live by them.

- Ross Tyson, deputy editor