Victoria Police Under Scrutiny for Alleged Racial Bias in Searches
A recent analysis suggests that Victoria Police may be applying a lower threshold of suspicion to African Australians during warrantless searches, raising concerns about potential racial profiling. The investigation highlights disparities in hit rates and significant gaps in data collection on ethnic appearance, undermining efforts to ensure equitable policing practices.
Hit Rate Disparities Point to Unequal Treatment
The analysis, based on data obtained through freedom of information laws, examined warrantless pedestrian drug and weapons searches conducted by uniformed general duties police in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. Officers are required to form a reasonable suspicion before searching individuals. Hit rate analysis, a standard method for identifying racial profiling, compared outcomes for people perceived as African versus those perceived as white.
Across Melbourne, police were significantly less likely to find drugs when searching African-appearing individuals, with the odds of a hit about 27% lower. This gap indicates that police may be relying on flimsier reasons to stop African Australians, suggesting a lower suspicion threshold. The pattern was most pronounced in Melbourne's north-west corridor, including Brimbank and Melton, where searches of African-appearing people were approximately 86% less likely to uncover drugs than searches of white-appearing people.
Andrew Ohide, chair of Victoria's South Sudanese Community Association, reported that young South Sudanese Australians frequently describe being stopped by police without clear reasons. He emphasised the need for accountability if racial profiling is occurring.
Data Collection Failures Hinder Monitoring Efforts
Despite a 2013 commitment to monitor discriminatory searches following the Haile-Michael case, Victoria Police have not implemented mandatory reporting of perceived ethnic appearance. The analysis reveals that racial appearance data is missing in about 22% of drug-search records and 20% of weapons searches. This omission complicates efforts to track and address racial profiling.
In 2015, Victoria Police became the first force in Australia to officially prohibit racial profiling, yet key recommendations from a 2013 independent report, such as mandatory ethnic appearance reporting and monitoring of disproportionate policing, remain unimplemented. Police cited complexities and privacy concerns as barriers, despite releasing relevant data under freedom-of-information laws.
Dr. Berhan Ahmed of Africause described the findings as serious and called for justice-oriented reforms. Experts like Rebecca Wickes from the Griffith Criminology Institute cautioned that data limitations, including high rates of missing appearance information, make definitive conclusions challenging but acknowledged the potential for bias.
Police Response and Broader Implications
Victoria Police did not address why mandatory ethnic reporting has not been implemented. A spokesperson stated that searches require lawful grounds and that officers are trained to focus on behaviour, not background. They affirmed commitments to dignity, respect, and human rights, with mandatory training for all members.
Professor Chris Cunneen of the University of Technology Sydney noted that the analysis aligns with existing knowledge about racialisation in policing, referencing similar patterns in searches of First Nations youth in New South Wales. He warned that targeted searches based on race could harm police-community relations.
Wickes highlighted broader issues with warrantless searches, emphasising the need for accurate data collection to protect privacy rights. The analysis underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and transparent policing practices in Victoria.
