The Independent Police Complaints Commission has called for a review of recruitment and development methods to identify personality traits that are unacceptable in police officers.

The recommendation came as 12 police officers were set to be disciplined as a result of a BBC documentary – The Secret Policeman, screened in 2003 - showing racism at a police training college in Cheshire.

The 12 include four officers who train recruits who will get written warnings.

The IPPC has called on Centrex, the Central Police Training and Development Authority, to carry out a national review of race and diversity training.

The commission said that methods should be developed to identify personality traits that were "unacceptable" in police officers.

It also recommended that the feasibility of having an independent person on every recruiting panel for trainers should also be examined.

A review of the recommendations will be held in September.

IPCC commissioner Nicola Williams said: "It is vital that the police service can permanently improve recruit training and ensure that each and every police officer supports the need to treat everybody fairly, regardless of their race, religion or colour."

Centrex, welcomed the recommendations and said it had been working with the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, and the Association of Police Authorities on the police race and diversity learning and development programme since November 2004.

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)has also carried out its own investigation into the case and is expected to publish its findings this week.