Top cop says Victoria Police needs more South Sudanese officers

A TOP cop tipped to be a future police assistant commissioner has told a forum on African crime that Victoria Police needs more South Sudanese members in its ranks.

A TOP cop tipped to be a future police assistant commissioner has told a forum on African crime that Victoria Police needs more South Sudanese members in its ranks.

Commander Stuart Bateson, speaking at a panel event hosted by Monash University and Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, said the organisation had found it difficult to recruit from the African-Australian community.

“We want to see a police force that’s representative of the community … some of that has been challenging over time,” he said.

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Commander Stuart Bateson says Victoria Police has struggled to recruit officers of African background.

Victoria Police officers and African-Australian community leaders patrolling Tarneit Central Shopping Centre in January. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian

“What we need to do is build Victoria Police as an employer of choice and I’m not sure we’re there yet.

“I’m not sure we are getting recruits from the South Sudanese community who are going on to university and great jobs.

“I wish I had a quick and clear solution but part of that is making sure young people from African communities look at the police and want to join.”

Commander Bateson said a taskforce to tackle youth crime among African-Australians would also help address divis­ions in the community.

“I don’t think it’s going to resolve itself and it is going to take leadership,” he said.

“Part of what we’re trying to do there is make sure Victoria Police are in step with the community and our actions are formed by their advice.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton with the taskforce comprising of African community leaders. Picture: Alex Coppel

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“We know if we start to diverge from community expectations we’re going to be in trouble and you only have to look at some American cities to see where that’s gone horribly long.”

Deputy Commission Andrew Crisp, also speaking at the forum, said he hoped local leaders and university researchers could help police efforts to tackle youth crime.

“We want to see what we can do to break that cycle so that young people don’t get involved in the criminal justice system,” he said.

“It is the applied research that’s really important for us because that is about how you make sense of what’s actually happening here and now.”