SYDNEY, July 10: Bus drivers, cooks and dish washers dressed up as police to protect US President George Bush during his visit to Australia last year.

The Canberra Times reported on Saturday that the local police force had admitted the veracity of press reports in October when Bush flew in for a 21-hour visit to Canberra.

Twelve civilian employees wore reflective police vests and blue police overalls to beef up the security presence during the official visit in what was described by authorities as "the best option at the time".

After the visit, Australian Federal Police Association president Jon Hunt-Sharman said the move had been a mistake because it was intended to dupe the public into thinking that staff strength was higher than it really was.

"The bottom line is that if a member of the public saw someone in a police uniform, then they expect the person to actually be a sworn police officer."

A police spokesman at the time said civilians acting in police roles were dressed as police to avoid confusion. -dpa