Victoria Police Commissioner, Simon Overland addresing the media in Melbourne
By our reporter
Melbourne: The Victorian Police Commissioner, Mr. Simon Overland has said that some recent attacks on Indian students are racist and some others opportunistic. He was answering a question by South Asia Times Editor Neeraj Nanda, whether the attacks were racist or not. He also agreed that the police numbers in Melbourne were less as compared to the need of an expanding population.
So, when asked when will the number of cops will go up, Mr. Simon said, “The numbers are an issue and we will have 11,250 cops by the middle of next year. This means there will be 350 more cops than now”
“We also feel that the police force should be multicultural and people from different communities including Indian should join the police”, he said replying to a question by South Asia Times.
About the issues with overseas students, Mr. Simon said, there are broader issues including safety, and accommodation. We have heard and understand the Indian students and want to address the issues and make the environment safe for everyone”
On the issue of having a law against hate crimes, Mr. Simon was of the opinion that it was a legislative issue. But said “crime is a crime”.
“Racism and violence are wrong and we have to see it does not get out of control”, he added.
Earlier, the Police Commissioner addressed a select gathering of ethnic media and police officers at the Melbourne Convention Centre and hoped to work with the community to consolidate multiculturalism. He said: “There are going to be challenges in having a multicultural society”.
“We are determined to deal with the current issues and policing will have a part to play in this issue”, he said.
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