The Lateline program claimed that Victoria Police was delivering a training package to its members that is based on racial profiling and is in breach of the Human Rights Charter.

I am very concerned about the implication of this claim and I utterly reject it.

Victoria Police works tirelessly to build understanding with all communities, not least the African communities.

We have a strong presence on the ground working with communities in areas of high African population and have made significant inroads in improving relationships and trust.

The African/Sudanese Community Cross Cultural Training package that Lateline referred to was developed in 2006 to better inform Victoria Police members and improve engagement with members of the Sudanese Community.

The training package was delivered to about 1000 Victoria Police members over 5 years.

It was a genuine attempt to give police an understanding of some of the factors that could give rise to offending behaviour.

The content of the training package was developed in consultation with Sudanese community leaders and was regularly reviewed and refined over the five years of its life.

In September 2010, it was determined that the training package was no longer required and was withdrawn.

Greater Dandenong is the most multi-cultural LGA in Victoria with 156 recognised settled cultures.

Greater Dandenong police have a heightened understanding of cultural diversity given the area they police. All police undertake cultural competence and human rights training but in Greater Dandenong we take additional cultural competence measures.

I consider it crucial that my members understand and are conscious of the settlement journey that many young people from new and emerging communities face, including young people from the Sudanese community.

This in turn should inform how we exercise police discretion and keep the community safe in particular situations.

I reject wholeheartedly any notion that this is considered to be racial profiling, as Lateline claimed.

Victoria Police members always endeavour to take a fair and professional approach when policing the community. Our key focus is on crime and the bad behaviour of individuals, not specific cultural groups.

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius

Southern Metropolitan Region

Victoria Police

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