The recent African Music & Cultural Festival at Federation Square brought something unexpectedly heartwarming to my social media feed this weekend. Between the vibrant performances and mouth-watering food stalls, a few Victoria Police officers were spotted joining in the festivities, dancing and engaging with festival-goers in a way that sparked both joy and debate online.

Standing in stark contrast to the often-tense relationship between law enforcement and diverse communities, these moments of genuine human connection struck me as particularly significant. The sight of uniformed officers letting their guard down, swaying to African beats, and sharing laughs with festival attendees painted a picture of what community policing could and should be.