SUDANESE-born Victorians are the most violent ethnic group in the state, police figures show.

More than 330 Sudanese immigrants and visitors were accused of assault in Victoria in 2009-10, according to police records.

New Zealanders and Indians were processed for more assaults but, with far bigger populations here, were less likely to offend.

The figures come as police investigate violent clashes between Sudanese community members after a national Sudanese beauty pageant on Saturday.

"It's a way of life for them to carry weapons," said one investigating officer.

Det Sen-Constable Dean Trigger said many Sudanese had fled from armed conflict and struggled to adapt.

"It's dog eat dog and their respect for police and human life is different," he said.

Of the 336 Sudanese-born assault offenders processed by police in 2009-10, 68 were accused of family violence and 268 of street assaults.

The assault data was broken down for each nationality and each police service area for the first time after a Herald Sun request more than a month ago.

Sudanese community leader Saturnino Onyala said the data seemed at odds with police assurances their young people were involved in fewer assaults than other groups.

Mr Onyala said community elders would meet to find ways to change the actions of their young people.

"I do not think they understand the role of police in the community here," he said. "They come from a war-torn country and that's very traumatic."

More than a third of assaults allegedly carried out by Sudanese occurred in the City of Dandenong.

There were 693 assaults by foreign-born residents in Dandenong -- 114 by Sudanese-born people -- compared with 702 in the City of Melbourne and 444 in the City of Casey.

Det Sen-Constable Robyn Waite said investigations into the latest brawl involving Sudanese, in the car park of Daisey's Hotel, Ringwood, on Tuesday night, was hampered because witnesses and victims were "not prepared to speak to police".

Three men were taken to hospital with head, leg and back wounds when bottles were used as weapons.

Investigations into the first brawl, in Clayton early on Monday morning, have also hit a brick wall and no charges have been laid.

Premier Ted Baillieu was saddened by the violence and met Sudanese leaders yesterday, with more talks planned.

Originally published as Violence a way of life for Sudanese