LANCASHIRE'S police chief today warned her officers to prepare for sweeping changes in a bid to combat the threat of racism in its ranks and told them: "Move with the times or get another job."

Pauline Clare believes lessons have to be learnt following the public inquiry into the killing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Mrs Clare has spoken exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about her vision for a modern police force in the county. And she has also explained why her force has publicly set out its stall to recruit more black and Asian officers.

She said: "We have to accept the findings of the Macpherson report and accept them as a challenge.

"The report said that organisations which have policies and procedures which are biased towards white males then they are institutionally racist.

"If we accept that definition then we have to accept Lancashire's police force is institutionally racist. "If that is the case then we have to accept the constabulary needs to change and we should accept the challenge."

She added: "The force should reflect the community it polices. We live in a diverse society and our police force should reflect that.

"We are planning a clean start and if there are any officers who feel uncomfortable with that they should think again.

"The old days have gone and the changes we have been bringing in over the last three years are here to stay."

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