THE attitude of lower-ranked police towards Africans and other migrant groups needs a “huge shift” says a Brimbank community leader.
Police last week confirmed two Sunshine sergeants had received counselling for producing stubby holders bearing racist references in April last year.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the professional standards command would review the decision to provide counselling, following revelations that 50 holders were produced with references to ‘‘mudfish’’ – a derogatory term for Africans. Both sergeants, members of the station’s social club, were told not to present the holders at any work-related function, but they were not suspended or stood down.
The revelations come only months after African leaders welcomed the settlement of a drawn-out discrimination case between a group of young African-Australian men, who said they were regularly stopped by police, mostly in Flemington and North Melbourne, for no good reason.
Brimbank African leader Abeselom Nega said while senior police had shown leadership on the topic of racism, it would continue to fester unless those with poor attitudes changed their ways.
“It needs input from those who are making these comments,’’ he said.
‘‘They [Victoria Police] need to examine the way they are interacting with the public.”
Mr Nega said it was sad to see months of effective engagement by police with minority groups being undone.
“I could see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “There has been some quite encouraging progress in recent months, so to hear about this is disappointing.”
Mr Crisp said the episode was extremely troubling. “They are leaders at a police station, and they have not lived up to the standards expected.”
Police Minister Kim Wells said the drink-holders were “totally inappropriate”.
“I have been assured the chief commissioner is handling this matter internally,” he said.
About 50 of the coolers are believed to have been distributed.
They also featured a birth date without a year — a reference to the many refugees from Sudan and other war-torn nations who don’t know their exact date of birth.
