PM's chief of staff Peta Credlin demands photographer delete photos of her at media event

Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin has demanded that a news photographer delete images of her.

AAP photographer Tracey Nearmy shot the images at a media event with the prime minister at Melbourne's Endeavour Hills police station today.

"I want the photographs deleted," Ms Credlin told Ms Nearmy immediately after she became aware that the images had been taken.

Ms Nearmy had shot video footage of the PM's event and noticed his high-profile chief of staff was also present, making a mental note to get a photograph of Ms Credlin.

"I thought I should try to get some shots as (Ms Credlin's) not normally in his entourage when he comes down here," Ms Nearmy said.

Exiting the room where the prime minister had been speaking, Ms Nearmy took some photographs of Ms Credlin, who was in the hallway where journalists were being ushered through to a station exit.

It was then Ms Credlin made what Ms Nearmy described as a "robust request" for the images to be deleted.

Audio caught by Nearmy's video camera captured the exchange.

"Sorry, I would like it deleted please," Ms Credlin says.

"This is a secure area. I'm in a secure area. This is a secure environment. I want the photographs deleted."

The prime minister's chief of staff then describes it as a "police area".

"I was deliberately not in that room, because that was the media room," she says.

Ms Nearmy told Ms Credlin she needed to call her picture editor before taking any further action.

"I had to say it several times," she said.

The prime minister's staff took the photographer's name and details.

Comment is being sought from the prime minister's office.