Top cop defends overseas trip

South Australia's police commissioner Grant Stevens says he's disappointed private photographs taken during a recent taxpayer-funded overseas trip were portrayed out of context in the media.

The commissioner has drawn criticism recently over the photos which were posted on Facebook and showed him and his wife taking in some sights at various locations including London and Dubai.

He says the images were all captured in private time, outside of work hours.

"Those photos were uploaded by my wife to share with our children who were back home and our friends. There's nothing wrong with that," he told radio 5AA on Thursday.