Some of my cops are racist, says Victorian police chief

But Chief Commissioner Simon Overland insists the racist element in Victoria Police is not stronger than in the general public and he is working hard to stamp out such attitudes.

Police officers are accused of labelling young African men "monkey" and "black c***", taking photographs of them gathered on the streets for intelligence purposes and, in one case, taking off their uniforms to bash black men in a public park.

Mr Overland vowed that if the bashing allegation, contained in a report from Springvale Monash Legal Service, was true, those involved would be investigated and charged.

"If that's happened, it's criminal and if we find evidence of that I would expect that officer or those officers to be charged," he told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"Racist attitudes held by members of Victoria Police - that is not OK. Acting on those racial attitudes is clearly not OK and where we find it people can expect that I will deal with them in the strongest possible terms."

Mr Overland said his message that racism was unacceptable was getting through to most officers.

"The vast majority of my staff actually understand that message all too well and in fact not only understand it, they are not racist," he said.

"They absolutely understand their responsibilities to the community."

But Springvale Monash Legal Service director Helen Yandell said racism was entrenched in the force.

"There is a culture (of racism) in Victoria Police," she told reporters on Tuesday.

"We can't say it's a few isolated bad cops when we're talking about across three major regions across Melbourne (Flemington, Dandenong and Braybrook) and communities that are quite widespread."

The legal service's community worker, Shane Reside, said stories gathered for the report included unprovoked assaults by police that left victims hospitalised.

He said there was racist behaviour reported about both male and female officers.

"What we need is an independent ... body," Mr Reside said.

"Police investigating police just isn't sufficient."

Mr Overland said the force was examining its policies in an effort to broaden the base from within which it recruits, including from African communities.

Thirty young Africans and eight community workers were interviewed for the report, which also compiled information gathered from community service workers over the past 15 months.

Mr Overland said it was unfair the legal service issued a media release containing elements of the allegations on Monday but was holding back the full report until Thursday.

"If they are going to make quite damning statements about Victoria Police I think it's only proper that we be given fair warning and fair notice and an adequate opportunity to respond," he said.

Ms Yandell said the report was released in parts to maximise the opportunity for young people to be heard.

"There is a very strong feeling that it's very hard for young people to get their voices heard and the agenda is always overtaken by large institutions, such as the police," she said.