Stubby holders mocking Sudanese migrants distributed among police in Sunshine in Melbourne's west

African Think Tank chairman and Victorian Australian of the year in 2009 Dr Berhan Ahmed said the stubby was offensive and needed to be taken seriously. Picture: Darren McNamara   Source: Herald Sun

The stubby holder has been used at the Sunshine police station's drinking nights. Source: Herald Sun

The officers in Melbourne's west have been caught mocking African migrants and their local community on racist stubby holders.

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has vowed to act against those responsible, and senior officers have slammed them as "offensive".

About 50 of the drink coolers are believed to have been made up for, and distributed among, officers in Sunshine, which has a large refugee community.

On one side of the stubby holders is a cartoon image of a mudfish and the words: "Sunshine police. Whoever says Sunshine brings happiness has never worked here."

"Mudfish" or "muddie" is derogatory slang for Africans, referencing the bottom-feeder species that is a common food source in Sudan and other countries.

The other side takes a further dig at the many refugees from Sudan and other war-torn nations who do not know their date of birth, proclaiming: "My date of birth is 01/01/?"

The items were produced last year and have been used regularly at the station's "mongrel" drinking nights.

African Think Tank chairman and Victorian Australian of the year in 2009 Dr Berhan Ahmed said the stubby was offensive and needed to be taken seriously.

Dr Berhan said senior police had called him to apologise about the smear on African Australians after the Herald Sun raised the matter with the force.

“It is serious; very, very serious, because it affects the morals, the psychology the welfare of those young people. If we don’t take this seriously we are neglecting the future leaders,” he said on 3AW.

“It is a deeper cultural problem within the police force. What we’re saying to the police is how do we clean up this mess?

Dr Berhan said part of the solution was giving the African community a greater voice and taking Africans into the police force.

Onus on all of us to show respect

"It's extremely disturbing," said Tamar Hopkins, principal solicitor at Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre.

"It's about ghettoising a whole area. It's appalling. This is really shocking."

Northwest metro police commander, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp, said he was extremely disappointed and angry, adding: "The production of these holders was utterly misguided and offensive."

After being alerted to the stubby holders by the Herald Sun, Chief Commissioner Lay directed the force's internal watchdog to act on the matter.

Assistant Commissioner Crisp said it was his understanding that local managers became aware of the stubby holders last year, taking action to destroy them - although the Herald Sun was shown one last week - and counselling two officers held responsible.

"Since learning of this issue however, the Chief Commissioner has deemed that the counselling the members received was wholly insufficient, and he has directed the Professional Standards Command to review the matter and consider further options," he said.

"This is completely at odds with the high standards the community rightly demands from its police," Mr Crisp added.

"We simply will not tolerate racism within the force and I think our improving track record in this regard - which has included the expulsion of five police members for racist behaviours since 2010 - is indicative of our determination to provide no quarter to racism within the organisation.

"It is absolutely vital that Victoria Police treats all communities with respect."

But community solicitor Ms Hopkins said: "It really reinforces the fact that there is a problem at a really deep cultural level.

"We're not talking about accidental over-policing but ingrained prejudices. These kinds of actions and activities are about humiliating and degrading people."

Ms Hopkins said it also spoke to the force's failure to deal with racism despite promises to do so after earlier incidents involving accusations of assaults and illegal stops and searches using racial profiling against young Africans.

In February the force agreed to launch a public inquiry into racism in its ranks as part of settling a Federal Court case brought by 16 Africans aged 13-20 and an Afghan man, 23.

peter.mickelburough@news.com.au