Indian students don't trust Victoria police

Melbourne, Oct 7 (ANI): International students including Indians do not report cases of assault to the Victoria Police because they don't trust them, a state parliamentary inquiry has been told.

The Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) and the Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS) both gave evidence to the inquiry on crime against students in public places.

FISA president Amit Menghani said he received at least one assault report per day from students.

"They don't go to the cops because they think that nothing is going to come of it, and that is a fact," he told the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee hearing.

"They have lost the confidence within the system that the system is really taking care of it," News.com.au quoted him, as saying.

AFIS honorary president Wesa Chau said often students did not report incidents to police because they are afraid it may affect their visas and in their own countries they did not trust police.

"They feel that police don't really take notice of them," she said.

Chau called for more police on public transport and better lighting at train stations, and added that public transport hours should be extended so international students who work late can get home.

A recent spate of assaults on Indian students prompted Premier John Brumby to visit India recently on a mission to repair Victoria's reputation as a safe place for international students. (ANI)