Instead, they're looking for new members to fill and diversify their ranks from the local community.

ACT Policing will be using their stall at the National Multicultural Festival over the weekend to promote their annual recruitment drive, as well to promote key safety messages for the capital's multicultural and wider community.

Officer-in-Charge of Crime Prevention Sergeant Harry Hains said the Multicultural Festival offers a chance for police to engage with a broad spectrum of people.

“With more than 260 000 people in attendance, it’s an ideal opportunity for us to directly engage with the community, and encourage greater diversity within the service, which is something we strive to achieve," he said.

“It’s important that we reflect the community in which we serve, and we acknowledge the value people with a different background bring to our workforce.”

Sergeant Hains said police would also be looking to reinforce correct methods for the community to contact police.

“We often find that in stressful situations, and in emergencies, people will revert back to what they were taught from their country of origin. Numbers like 911, 113 or 999 won’t work, and it’s vital that our community is aware of who to call.”

ACT Policing will have wallet size pocket guides at its stall, which outline the appropriate emergency service to contact.

“It’s also important that people are aware of the difference between emergency Triple Zero (000) and requests for police assistance (131 444) so we can ensure we triage and respond to priority incidents which are life threatening,” Sergeant Hains said.

The police stall will be located on City Walk, near The Canberra Times Fountain.