Police officers are still guilty of unwitting prejudice, say chiefs

In a confidential briefing paper, the Association of Chief Police Officers, says that "ignorance of difference" and "thoughtlessness" are further problems which are blighting attitudes to the ethnic minorities.

It also concedes that there are "cultural barriers" within the police for non-white staff and that reforms are needed to ensure that forces across the country are "more tolerant" and value difference.

The document, which is marked "not to be published externally or to be given out to the media", also emphasises that progress is being made and that such problems are isolated.

But the Met is already facing claims of racist discrimination against its two most senior Asian officers and calls by the Black Police Association for potential ethnic recruits to shun the force.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith last night announced a nationwide review of the treatment of ethnic minority officers. And the country's only black chief constable, Mike Fuller of the Kent force, a former senior Met officer, has added to the controversy by claiming in a Panorama documentary that ethnic minority officers in London have to work twice as hard to gain promotion.

The Association of Chief Police Officers document, which was sent out inadvertently by email, was drawn up in response to the programme and sets out the "lines to take" when trying to deal with the criticisms it contains.

It concedes that although recruitment of ethnic minority of ficers has improved significantly, "retention and progression" remains the "biggest challenge" faced by forces and warns that problems with "institutional racism" and "police culture" remain.

"If the police service is considered 'institutionally racist' on the basis that some of our processes, behaviour or attitudes show signs of thoughtlessness, ignorance of difference, racist stereotyping or unwitting prejudice then yes, there are signs that this still is the case on some occasions," the document states.