Students in Harris Park discuss recent events. PICTURE: JOHN APPLEYARD

A SERIES of high-level meetings between political, civic, ethnic and student leaders and police chiefs have calmed tension in Harris Park which saw the small suburb hit world headlines over the past week.

The suburb attacted international media attention when Indian students protested over three nights, claiming that police were not protecting them from street attacks.

Their protest followed an attack on an Indian student Monday night of last week, allegedly by Lebanese youths. Shortly after, three men matching that description were attacked.

While there was no violence after that, tensions were high for most of last week with a visible police presence in the area.

Businesses, particularly restaurants, suffered a huge drop in custom and the suburb’s reputation was dented.

But business and civic leaders are confident Harris Park’s image is on its way to full recovery.

The four meetings held mostly in Parramatta, have involved Parramatta local area commander Robert Redfern, Lord Mayor Tony Issa, Parramatta State Labor MP Tanya Gadiel, the Indian Consul General
Amit Dasgupta and Community Relations Commission chairman Stepan Kerkyasharian.

Students have also attended and were given the clear message that police could only help them if they reported attacks.

Supt Redfern told the Advertiser that he would continue to meet with community leaders to calm the tension. He said a community committee of residents and businesses had formed in Harris Park to work towards practical solutions to help the suburb.

``There are a range of issues to be examined such as improving lighting and looking at community safety,’’ Supt Redfern said.