News

April 2002

Future Directions

Gerard Daniells
Executive Director, National Police Ethnic Advisory Bureau

Developing and sustaining effective and efficient partnerships to achieve common goals between police and the community is NPEAB's underpinning philiosophy

As the newly appointed Executive Director I am pleased to present the 2002 NPEAB News, Connexions. The events following the September 11 tragedy have highlighted the importance of maintaining positive and proactive relations between Australia's diverse communities and the police. To this end, the 2002 edition of NPEAB News includes national and international articles that demonstrate both the challenges facing police services and their approaches to encourage and strengthen community relations in a culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse society.

In my capacity as Executive Director of NPEAB I feel privileged to have the opportunity to input on the broad ranging issues impacting on police and diverse community relations. I have spent the larger part of my working life within the Public Service sector of the Western Australian Government and the last ten years with the Western Australian Police Service. My work in the multicultural affairs arena has instilled me with a strong commitment to issues concerning community relations and social justice. Needless to say, I am excited and look forward to my new role and the challenges 2002 will present.

Policing in a culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse society is indeed challenging. Diversity in its many manifestations must be valued and nurtured as a social imperative. To achieve this imperative we must work in partnership. Developing and sustaining effective and efficient partnerships to achieve common goals between police and the community is NPEAB's underpinning philosophy.

It is, therefore, crucial for police services to understand, manage and be responsive to the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of its client base. Improving access to services and promoting service delivery standards that are sensitive and culturally appropriate will, in turn, improve community and police relations and foster mutual trust.

My vision for the future of NPEAB include:

• Build on the good work and partnership already forged by the Bureau over the past ten years between police and diverse communities.
• Take a lead role in conducting cutting edge research which would assist police management in policing multi-ethnic communities.
• Assist police jurisdictions around Australia become more representative of the communities they serve by increasing the number of police officers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Improve ethnic youth/police relations.
• Work more closely with the media
  • balanced reporting
  • descriptions of persons
  • more "good news" stories regarding culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • discourage negative stereotyping
• Encourage the management of cultural diversity as the "norm" and not as a specialised skill or added task within police services.
• Develop the Bureau as an internationally recognized organization and Centre of Excellence.

I am pleased to advise that the Bureau has increased its personnel with the addition of a new position of Special Adviser. Mr. Hass Dellal will carry out this role on a part time basis.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate my predecessor Mr. Ivan Kolarik for his dedication to and excellent leadership of the Bureau over the last decade. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing our good friend and colleague, Ivan a healthy and happy retirement.

In closing, the National Police Ethnic Advisory Bureau is strongly committed to working in close partnership with police jurisdictions and the community towards addressing and meeting the policing needs of our diverse communities and enhancing relations between police and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.