Melbourne (PTI) In the wake of a wave of attacks on Indian students here, Victoria police in its efforts to reduce crimes has positioned a hi-tech CCTV van in the western suburbs of Melbourne, which has witnessed several such incidents.

The van with close circuit television(CCTV) will be deployed in Footscray suburb, largely inhabited by foreign immigrants including Indian.

A total of 20 Indian students have been assaulted in a month in Australia, mainly in western suburbs.

The purpose of the van in Footscray was not only to deter people from committing crimes, but also to help assist police with gathering information and identifying offenders, Maribyrnong Inspector Ian Geddes said.

"It can be driven around the streets or remain stationary at a particular hotspot, and has five cameras on the rooftop to continuously record live footage", police said.

"It will help with the later identification of suspects for criminal offences and also of people who may be wanted or are breaching their bail conditions," he said.

"In addition to police already working on the street, we hope the van will act as a strong deterrent to open drug dealing and anti-social behaviour," he added.

The van will be used on a regular basis throughout the western suburbs, and will be driven and manned by trained police personnel.

Australia is home to over 95,000 Indians pursuing education here but recent attacks have shaken country's reputation as a safe destination for overseas students. Related stories: