A Thames Valley Police officer has been sacked from the force after making racist comments.

The officer – whose name and where they were based cannot be revealed due to the “operational security of other officers” – made the comments while on a training course on May 11, 2016.

During the course, at the College of Policing in Ryton, the officer directed the “inappropriate” remarks to another student.

After the incident was reported, they were asked to leave the course and then subsequently phoned the person who had made the complaint and secretly recorded the conversation.

Police say the officer's behaviour breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in terms of authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct and was dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing on January 12.

Det Ch Insp, Bruce Riddell of Thames Valley Police Professional Standards Department, said: "The officer breached the professional standards expected of all Thames Valley Police officers.

"Racism will not be tolerated within Thames Valley Police and I would hope the dismissal will show that such behaviour is not acceptable if you are an officer or staff working for the Force.

"We are grateful to other officers on the course who reported this officer's behaviour and I would encourage all members and staff working within Thames Valley Police to challenge and report any inappropriate behaviour."