Police need to allow Aboriginal people to tell them how they can do their job better to help bridge the us-against-them divide, the force’s most senior-ranking indigenous officer says.

Commissioner Chris Dawson will today announce the creation of an Aboriginal Affairs Division (AAD) within the WA Police Force to build and nurture better relationships with indigenous communities, headed by Supt Mark Ninyett, a Noongar man and police officer of 32 years.

“Establishing the AAD builds upon our apology to indigenous people earlier this year and enables my strategic intent to reduce Aboriginal offending and victimisation in WA,” Mr Dawson said.

Supt Ninyett said the division’s team of 10, including five officers, had to “get back to basics” and focus on engagement as well as enforcement and prevention. Police needed to understand the history, culture and idiosyncrasies of varying indigenous communities and regions, he said.

Camera Icon Mark Ninyett.

“If you’re in a divorce you can’t get back together until you develop respect again and respect has to come from both sides,” he said.

“As opposed to what the white man has always done to Aboriginal people is telling them how it is, we’re asking what do you need and how can we provide that service to you?

“Every exchange or engagement, even if we’re arresting a person for disorderly or domestic violence, we have to ensure we understand and provide the exact same service to an Aboriginal person as we apply to a white person.”

Supt Ninyett said before police tried to change attitudes outside, “we’ve got to change our backyard and we’re starting that process”.

“From 1905 onwards police officers were the legislators who removed Aboriginal people from their homes ... it has been inherently enforced upon them that police are bad, if you see police run because they’re coming to get you. And that instalment has been there forever. You’ve now got to break that barrier down, even up until today when police mean bad things. This is generational change we’re looking for,” he said.

“If we’re not at the dinner table, we’re on the menu so we have to have Aboriginal people at the table and we have to allow Aboriginal people to tell us how we need to do our job and how we need to improve the way we do our business.”

Supt Ninyett said the WA Police Force needed more Aboriginal officers, including those in leadership positions. Half the AAD’s team is indigenous.

Mr Dawson has also set up the Aboriginal Police Advisory Forum, joining the forces of the police executive with eight of WA’s Aboriginal leaders to provide high-level policy advice.