POLICE will take bus tours around Greater Dandenong to connect with different cultures.
Southern Metro Region Inspector Ron Gardner will send at least two officers on each Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network Places of Worship tour under a new partnership.
“The community is growing in its cultural diversity,” he said.
“We need to make sure that the police that work in that area have as much understanding as they can.”
Insp Gardner said the officers who took part would be those who are most likely to influence their peers.
“Gradually the knowledge and diversity will flow through,” he said.
“If you have no understating of what they may hold as offensive or insulting, we unintentionally could alienate ourselves from the people we’re supposed to be providing a service for.”
He said a gesture as simple as placing a hand on a victim’s shoulder to provide comfort could be offensive in some cultures.
“Police are drawn from the community, but may not have experiences with all other cultures. We need to equip them,” he said.
The Interfaith Network’s Helen Heath said the tours had been taking place for 22 years and were held every second month.
They included visits to temples, mosques, indigenous sacred sites and churches.
“Some people can be quite anxious about people in uniform and people in authority because of where they’ve come from and what they’ve been through,” Ms Heath said.
“When everybody’s educated, that anxiety is lessened.”
Places of Worship tours are scheduled for 10 June, 12 August, 14 October and 9 December and cost $25, including transport and a copy of the Many Faiths, One People booklet.
Visit www.interfaithnetwork.org.au, call Ms Heath on 0408 571 483 or email tours@interfaithnetwork.org.au for bookings or more information.
– CASEY NEILL
