The formation of a Sussex Black Police Officers' Association was attacked today as racist and divisive.

One officer asked whether there should be an association for white officers.

Black firearms officer PC Richard Edwards said he would not be joining.

The Gatwick-based officer said: "The creation of this association may cause divisions.

"It may cause resentment among people of all other backgrounds.

"I would be alarmed if an association for white officers was set up which excluded me.

"We are all police officers, regardless of background and we are and always will be protected by the Police Federation."

The association was formed last month to "improve the working environment for black officers and win back the confidence of black and minority ethnic communities".

Several officers and support staff criticised the move as divisive in letters in the latest edition of the force magazine Patrol.

Chief Inspector Kul Verma, chairman of the association, stressed its objective was to create a fair and level working environment for all employees, regardless of race, culture or sexual orientation.

He said: "Those opposing the association have clearly not understood this and refuse to take the first step, which is to listen."

He said there was no intention to label staff as racist but he said institutional racism did exist.

Sergeant Steve Hart, of Chichester, said: "In all the years I have worked in this force I have never come across institutional racism."

Retired officer Chris Holt from Horsham called the association divisive, racist and "insulting to non-ethnic officers."

Brighton-based Sergeant Jenny Abura, association secretary, said her experience of working mainly with white and male officers had been positive.

She said: "However, there have been a handful of occasions when a few individuals have acted negatively towards me because of my colour.

"The impact of the actions of these few far exceeds their numbers to the detriment of all of we police officers.

"We have to move away from the 'them and us' attitude in terms of race and police versus the community."

"The association is here to enhance that partnership approach, not to divide us on grounds of race."

She said her allegiance to the federation and colleagues was unchanged by her being an association member.

She said she had no common ground with those who did not accept her because of her colour.