Australian police and fire brigade officers are likely to visit India soon to advice Melbourne-bound students on their personal safety and security in Melbourne as the city has seen a rise in violent racist attacks. Victorian Police spokesperson said that the trip scheduled for June was on final stages of approval. However further details are awaited. In the latest attack,a 21-year-old Indian student Sourabh Sharma was beaten,robbed and racially abused by a gang of six on Saturday night last as he travelled home. Meanwhile,a media report said that a police officer and a representative of Metropolitan Fire Brigade were to join a team from Victoria University in a five-city tour,to provide students information on safety on the streets and public transport,apart from fire safety. On Tuesday,Victorian police that has been often accused of not responding appropriately to racist attacks said that a new helpline service was being launched on Friday to help Indian students who were the victims of crime. But the Indian community members and Islamic council of Victoria and Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) described the move as "very little effort". The Islamic council said that helpline was a "too little,too late" and police should be doing more to prevent assaults,not just asking victims to report them. Council executive Nazeem Hussain said a "serious problem of racism exists within our society". "A priority in fighting crime involves preventing would-be criminals from offending. Sadly,it is evident the Victoria Police have failed to adequately address the cause of these attacks - which is racism," he said. A police spokeswoman said the council's outburst was disappointing as police had put considerable resources into the problem and were getting results. "The third of a series of planned operations tackling robberies and anti-social behaviour in the western suburbs earlier this month resulted in police arresting 20 offenders for 19 various offences including intentionally causing injury,possessing controlled weapons and hindering police," she said. "Victoria Police does not condone racism in any form and whilst we believe that a majority of these assaults and robberies are based on opportunity,not race,we are taking all of these incidences very seriously."
