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The claims, including allegations of punching, kicking and choking, prompted a secret “ethical health” review of the Flemington Police Station, conducted for the Ethical Standards Department last year by Inspector Mark Doney.

In one of the most shocking cases, a youth alleged that he was punched twice in the head while his face was on the ground. He said a police officer then called him a “black c—” and stood on his head while smoking a cigarette.

The confidential Doney report, part of which was leaked to The Sunday Age last month, questioned the future of a senior sergeant accused by lawyers of running a regime of “racially motivated police violence” against local African youths.

Lawyers from the Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre, who have been trying to get the report under freedom of information, say there are now 19 complaints before the OPI alleging police assaults on African youths.

The alleged assault of Mr Dini — this year’s Moonee Valley youth of the year — took place as police searched a Flemington high-rise estate for youths who had allegedly thrown rocks at a police car.

During the Magistrate’s Court hearing of the charge against Mr Dini, Senior Constable Matthew Alston claimed that he was helping a colleague who was wrestling with Ghafoor Wakil, 20, who was later charged with resisting arrest; that charge also was dismissed last week.

He said Mr Dini was running over to interfere in the arrest and as he tried to stop him, his forearm struck Mr Dini’s chest.

However, Mr Dini told the court that he was standing 30 metres away holding a piece of cake in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other, when Senior Constable Alston ran up and ordered him to raise his arms. He obeyed, still holding the cake and drink. The police officer then used his torch to hit him “with full force” in the face, he said, knocking him to the ground. The court later heard the officer had hot chocolate on his clothes. Mr Dini said the impact of the blow dislodged three teeth. “I was saying ‘hospital’ — I wanted to save my teeth.”

Dismissing the charge of hindering police, Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg said several aspects of the police case were “curious”, such as why Mr Dini would be running over to interfere in an arrest while holding a cup of hot chocolate.

He said Senior Constable Alston’s version failed to explain Mr Dini’s facial injuries.

Mr Dini’s lawyer, Tamar Hopkins, said she would begin civil proceedings for damages, including pain and suffering and medical expenses, against Senior Constable Alston.

However, a 2002 Court of Appeal ruling that police who behaved unreasonably were individually responsible for their actions meant Mr Dini might not be able to sue the State of Victoria, she said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said that any legal action taken by individuals was “a matter for themselves”.

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A source who had spoken to the victims said while anti-Semitic abuse was a feature of both assaults, the victims believed they were targeted indiscriminately by drug-addicted attackers.

He said the assailants yelled anti-Semitic comments as they attacked the group of four boys; two of whom were physically assaulted, one suffering swelling to the face.

A Yeshivah College student was hit several times to the body with a baseball bat on August 18 and a chair was thrown through a Carlisle St restaurant where a Jewish customer was struck.

The attackers allegedly shouted “Aussie pride” during the assaults.

A police helicopter was used in the search for the assailants and it is believed two men in their 20s were later questioned but released pending further investigation.

B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission executive officer Manny Waks said regardless of the belief some of the attackers were affected by alcohol or drugs, they were obvious examples of anti-Jewish assaults.

“If we are going to use drugs and alcohol as an excuse to mitigate the assaults I think that is a concern,” Mr Waks said. “People have got to take responsibility for their actions. The perpetrators attacked visibly orthodox young people . . . `f—ing Jews’ was said, and similar vitriol.”

St Kilda police are investigating the assaults.

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The magazine is distributed free to more than 5000 students at the university’s Melbourne campuses and surrounding cafes.

The university and student union were flooded with complaints that articles about international students and women were discriminatory.

In an apology printed in the latest edition of the magazine, Mr Ng admits his articles had discriminated against and hurt people.

“Using the word ‘nigger’ not only breaks all ethical codes of the standard of journalism, but also shows a complete lack of sensitivity,” he said.

“There are better and more constructive ways to discuss racism or a woman’s difficulties on finding a perfect man.

“I know I have pushed all the wrong buttons.

“I sincerely apologise for my apathy and actions.”

RMIT Student Union president Patrick O’Keeffe said students were offended such language was printed.

He said the edition had been rushed into publication without its content being checked by the university’s editorial board.

“We’ve taken pretty swift action to make sure nothing like that ever happens again,” he said.

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