Channel 4 is insisting that it will not hand over unedited Celebrity Big Brother tapes to the police without a court order.

Police have requested tapes as part of their investigation into the show's race row involving Shilpa Shetty.

But a Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "We are in an ongoing dialogue with the police and have already provided them with access to many hours of broadcast programmes.

"The police have now requested un-transmitted programme material.

"Channel 4's policy, consistent with that of all broadcasters, is to require the police to obtain a court order before such material is handed over.

"The police must satisfy a court that such material is of substantial value to their investigation and that disclosure is in the public interest."

Hertfordshire police have not yet made plans to seek a court order and are still in the process of interviewing housemates.

Police are preparing a file which will be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether or not to press charges.

Channel 4 has denied that there are two unseen racist clips from the reality show in which Shilpa, crowned this year's winner, is called a Paki.

Bollywood beauty Shilpa has said she does not believe the trio, Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara, and Danielle Lloyd, were racist.

Former Miss Great Britain Danielle has already met police officers to talk about the race row.