Victoria's most senior police officer has rubbished suggestions of an "African gang crisis", even asking a reporter, "how long since you've been out for dinner?" in an, at times, extraordinary press conference.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, in his first public appearance since returning from a six-week period of sick leave on Monday, also revealed people of African origin had been subject to racially motivated death threats amid a political storm regarding youth crime.

Flanked by African leaders from across Victoria, Mr Ashton announced that a community taskforce would be formed to work with police in addressing a surge of what he described as public order offences over the past month.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attacked Premier Daniel Andrews last week over "growing gang violence and lawlessness" in Victoria, before Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said that "African gang violence" had made Victorians "scared to go out to restaurants".