Ash Dixit’s new role at Fawkner police station will be his most challenging to date. The Indian-born police officer is the station’s new community liaison officer, a role intrinsically linked to changing migrants’ perception of police.
Senior Constable Dixit said that in India, police were often viewed as corrupt and unresponsive. So when Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and other migrants moved to Australia, their perception of the police as a heavy-handed arm of the government was transferred to Victoria Police.
“My role is to break down those barriers and enhance the relationship between police and the community,” he said.
“People from some culturally and linguistically diverse communities may be hesitant to talk to police here as our role in Australia is often very different to the role of law enforcement in their home country.
“As a migrant myself, I can relate to newcomers and understand the difficulties they face in starting afresh in a new country,” Senior Constable Dixit said.
He said he would talk to community groups, asylum seekers and refugees about the services police offer, such as support for victims of family violence.
“People from ethnic backgrounds are hesitant to report it because people are scared and they don’t know so much help is available to them,” he said.
“I was hesitant myself when I arrived. When I was stationed in the city [as a police recruit] people were asking us for directions to the casino. You get in trouble for that in India.”
Senior Constable Dixit can be contacted at Fawkner police station, 1151 Sydney Road, Hadfield, on 9355 6022.
