POLICE Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon is likely to appoint a group of African liaison officers to help cool the crisis between police and young Africans.

In a meeting with African community leaders, Ms Nixon said she would examine how to use the liaison officers, which would be hired by Victoria Police to bring the groups together.

The officers will be posted to hotspots such as Flemington, Footscray, Dandenong and Noble Park.

They will help police to better understand and communicate with African youths and parents.

Ms Nixon told the meeting that African communities develop volunteer groups to assist police in time of crises, such as the conflict in December last year.

The meeting last week was initiated by African community leaders after the showdown in Flemington, when more than 100 Africans surrounded police after they wanted to know who threw an object at their car.

African Think Tank chairman Dr Berhan Ahmed said there was a "crisis" in the relationship between young Africans and police, with boys as young as 10 carrying weapons coming under the influence of African gang leaders.

"Both groups don't understand each other, and this has created a crisis situation," he said.

"When you have that combination it is only natural that tinderbox conditions prevail rather than trust, respect and understanding."

Dr Ahmed said what happened at in December was "a very dangerous situation".

"And there have been other incidents that could have developed into a showdown with police," he said.

A police spokeswoman said Victoria Police had previously engaged the services of Aboriginal and Vietnamese community representatives with great success.

"Victoria Police is continually striving to provide the best possible service to all members of the community . . . and this meeting is a positive step forward in further connecting with our African community," she said.

Ms Nixon and other police are now investigating the financial and other requirements of employing African liaison officers.

Originally published as Top cop in peace bid on Africans