Simon Overland, Victoria’s Police Commissioner, met with Melbourne’s multilingual media last week as a way of strengthening police ties with Victoria’s multicultural communities.

Over 50 members of Melbourne’s ethnic media attended the informal gathering.

Commissioner Overland emphasised the “shared responsibility between police and the media to provide important messages to the public” adding the need to maintain “open dialogue to understand” each other’s perspectives.

He underscored the importance of networking with the ethnic media so as to ensure a positive relationship between the police force and members of culturally diverse communitie

The Commissioner went on to announce five New and Emerging Community Liaison Officers beginning next this week in a pilot program lasting 12 months.

Talking about the Community Liaison Officers, “They will bring expertise and knowledge about new cultures, languages and the unique settlement process for each community that in the past have posed challenges for police.”