Police Profiling in Australia: Shocking new research has exposed the extent of racial profiling within Victoria Police, with Aboriginal and other racialised communities subjected to disproportionate searches, force, and harassment. Despite an official ban on racial profiling introduced in 2015, the latest data reveals that discriminatory policing practices are not only continuing, they’re actually getting worse.
If you or someone you know has experienced racial profiling, unlawful searches, or excessive force by police in Victoria or anywhere in Australia, it’s important to understand your legal rights. At O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, we specialise in holding law enforcement accountable for misconduct and securing justice for victims.
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The Data: A Clear Pattern of Discrimination in Police Profiling in Australia
In November 2025, the Racial Profiling Data Monitoring Project released findings that paint a disturbing picture of policing in Victoria. The data, obtained through Freedom of Information requests, analysed all warrantless searches recorded by Victoria Police in 2024.
The statistics are stark:
- Aboriginal people were 15 times more likely to be searched by Victoria Police than white people
- People perceived to be African were nine times more likely to be searched
- People perceived as Middle Eastern or Pacific Islander were five times more likely to be searched
- Aboriginal Victorians were 10 times more likely to have force used against them, and 13 times more likely to be subjected to Taser use
- African Victorians were 23.7 times more likely to be subjected to police pursuits
Dr Tamar Hopkins, founder of the monitoring project, stated that the findings demonstrate both systemic racism and systematic racial profiling within Victoria Police practices.
Low Search Success Rates Expose Bias
Perhaps the most telling evidence of racial profiling lies in the search outcomes. Police officers were consistently less likely to find contraband when searching people they perceived to be African, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Indian, or Asian, compared to those they perceived to be white.
In fact, fewer than one in four searches across all groups resulted in a find. Some units performed even worse, the Divisional Response Unit, for example, had a success rate of just 7.9 per cent in 2022.
These low “hit rates” indicate that police are stopping and searching racialised communities without reasonable grounds, a fundamental breach of legal requirements and human rights.
A Decade Since the Ban: Why Nothing Has Changed with Police Profiling in Australia
Victoria Police officially banned racial profiling in 2015, following a Federal Court settlement in which the force was accused of racially profiling African Australian men. It was the first police force in Australia to formally define and prohibit the practice.
Yet, neither Victoria Police nor the Victorian government established any independent mechanisms to monitor compliance with the ban. As a result, there has been no meaningful oversight, no accountability, and, according to the latest data, no improvement.
In fact, Dr Hopkins noted that despite a public apology from then-Chief Commissioner Shane Patton at the Yoorrook Justice Commission in 2023, the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The data shows that searches and use of force against Aboriginal people are increasing, not decreasing.
Missing Data and Lack of Accountability
The report also revealed significant gaps in police record-keeping. Nearly 17 per cent of police search records failed to include information about the person’s ethnic appearance, despite this being mandatory since 2019. Similarly, 12.5 per cent of use-of-force records were missing this crucial data.
Victoria Police disputed the findings, claiming that recording ethnicity is only mandatory for field contact reports, not all searches. However, advocates and legal experts have called this response dismissive and inadequate, describing it as a form of institutional denial that further undermines public trust.
The Impact on Communities
Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, emphasised that the abuse of power and discrimination faced by Aboriginal people is not the result of “a few bad apples.” It is systemic, excessive, and ongoing.
These policing practices have serious, long-term consequences. Unlawful stops, searches, and violent encounters push Aboriginal and other racialised individuals into contact with the criminal justice system, creating a cycle of disadvantage, trauma, and criminalisation that can last a lifetime.
For young people in these communities, being repeatedly stopped, questioned, or subjected to force by police can erode trust in the legal system and damage mental health and wellbeing.
Your Legal Rights: What You Can Do
If you have been subjected to racial profiling by police in Australia, you have the right to take legal action. Civil claims can be pursued for:
- False imprisonment: When police detain you without lawful authority or fail to inform you of the reason for arrest
- Assault and battery: When officers use physical force against you without legal justification
- Unlawful search: When police search you or your property without reasonable grounds
- Racial discrimination: When policing decisions are based on your ethnicity, not your behaviour
- Aggravated or exemplary damages: For cases involving abuse of power, racial abuse, or conduct that shocks the conscience
These claims are civil matters, meaning they are separate from any criminal proceedings. Even if criminal charges were laid or if you pleaded guilty to an offence, you may still have grounds to pursue compensation for the way you were treated by police.
We Are Experts in Police Misconduct Cases
At O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, we are highly experienced for our work in police misconduct and civil compensation cases. Our Sydney-based team acts for clients across Australia who have experienced abuse, excessive force, racial profiling, and unlawful detention.
We have successfully sued police and state governments in matters involving:
- Racial profiling and discriminatory policing
- False arrest and unlawful imprisonment
- Excessive use of force, including Taser, pepper spray, and physical assault
- Unlawful searches and invasions of privacy
- Failure to inform individuals of the reason for arrest
Our experienced lawyers understand both the legal framework and the personal toll that police misconduct takes. We take the time to listen to your story, gather strong evidence, and fight hard to achieve justice and fair compensation.
Take the First Step Against Police Profiling in Australia
The data is clear: racial profiling by Victoria Police is not an isolated issue, it is systemic, pervasive, and deeply unjust. But victims do not have to accept it. The law provides pathways for accountability, and we are here to help you navigate them.
If you believe you have been subjected to racial profiling, unlawful detention, or excessive force, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Evidence such as CCTV footage, medical records, bodycam footage, and witness accounts can be crucial in building a strong case.
Contact O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors today:
📞 Call (02) 9261 4281
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🌐 Or enquire online for a confidential consultation
Your rights deserve our expertise. Let us help you hold police accountable and secure the justice you deserve.
