Secret tactics to root out any racist police are being considered by Chief Constable Ken Jones.

He is also calling on staff to "grass" on colleagues who step out of line by calling a telephone hotline to his office or by email.

Chief Inspector Kul Verma, chairman of the Sussex Black Police Officers Association, wants police "monitored" and anyone being racist, sexist or homophobic at work, in the street or off duty in a pub, to be reported and punished.

He said he was sickened by what he termed the "hatred of moronic thugs" shown last week on BBC TV's programme The Secret Policeman.

Five officers from the North Wales, Greater Manchester and Cheshire forces resigned as a result of the documentary, which captured racist behaviour by recruits.

The chief's gloves-off response came in a force-wide email yesterday to all 4,500 officers and civilians.

He said he wanted all of them to watch the TV programme and to sign an anti-discrimination declaration.

Mr Jones had viewed The Secret Policeman for a second time and said: "My sense of dismay and anger has deepened. I am determined that good must come from this.

"People of my generation had hoped that there would be a step change in attitudes towards diversity as new, young people joined the service.

"It is now apparent that this can no longer be taken for granted. We must now move beyond talk of mere tolerance to positive anti-racism and anti-discrimination.

"We have heard the words and felt the hatred of moronic thugs who had no right to be in our service in the first place."

Mr Jones said the initiative would build on the seven-point action plan agreed by all chief constables who met in London last week.

The voluntary declaration he wants them to sign says: "We, the police officers, police staff and volunteers of Sussex Police, are dedicated to the values which underpin police service: integrity, fairness, equity, justice and courage. We will actively build a culture in our force which is overtly hostile to those who discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, skin colour, sexual orientation, disability, gender, social class or any other inappropriate factor."

Mr Jones said: "Whilst this declaration is largely symbolic, it also represents an undertaking by every one of us to actively build the sort of culture which values difference. It is not just words; it is a commitment from all of us to do something too."

Mr Jones urged staff to report anyone making discriminatory remarks and he for police supervisors to be on their toes.

He said: "Passive leadership does not deliver performance and neither will it deliver anti-racism. We can, and will, build something positive from this experience."