Sussex Police has been told to treble the force's number of ethnic minority officers.

The county's force has only 23 black or Asian officers, less than one per cent of the total.

According to Government figures, 0.79 per cent of the force's 3,000 officers are from ethnic backgrounds, compared to an ethnic minority population in the county of 2.37 per cent.

Home Secretary Jack Straw, at a conference today, said Sussex must recruit 47 more officers from ethnic minorities within ten years.

This is so the number of ethnic minority officers reflects the make-up of the population.

Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse, who admits "institutional racism" exists in his force, welcomed Mr Straw's target but stressed the force's acceptance standards will not be lowered to help ethnic recruitment.

He said the force's make-up should reflect the community: "If a black or Asian sees only white officers, he or she might feel excluded.

"We want them to feel integrated. Mr Straw's policy might well be introduced to all public sector areas and it is something the private sector will have to address."

The Home Secretary also expects ethnic officers' career prospects to improve and their resignation and dismissal levels to match those of white officers.

He said: "I do not accept that because a force has few ethnic minority members in its community there is no need to recruit them.

"We are a multicultural society and as such I want every force to aim to have at least one per cent of ethnic minority officers."

Sussex Police is already is actively trying to recruit more people from ethnic groups.

Assistant Chief Constable Maria Wallis said there were 30 such applicants in the last recruitment drive and a large number will get through.

But she stressed candidates would still be chosen on merit, not their colour or creed.

Even so, the force is considering coaching blacks and Asians to help them get selected.

One tip is aimed at those whose culture considers direct eye contact as disrespectful.

The force's selection process places emphasis on eye contact, especially during interviews, and the force may in future give guidance to candidates and assessors.

The force has also advertised with the Federation of Black Housing Associations and in London newspapers for ethnic applicants.

There are 2,191 black and Asian police constables in England and Wales out of a total of nearly 98,000, and only six black and Asian superintendents out of nearly 1,240 nationwide.

Mr Straw announced the new targets to chief constables at a conference in Southampton.

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