Police officers at Thames Valley, one of Britain's biggest forces, are being taught they have "white privilege" as part of new "equity training".
The training programme covers topics including "white privilege", "micro-aggressions" and the difference between being "non-racist versus anti-racist".
The concept of white privilege argues that white people have an inherent advantage based on their race in a society characterised by inequality and injustice.
The force introduced this training for all officers last September.
Thames Valley Police introduced this training for all officers last September
GETTYThis training rollout came just one month after Thames Valley Police had been found by an employment tribunal to have positively discriminated against white officers.
The case involved a detective inspector post that was not advertised but went to an Asian sergeant, despite warnings about legal risks of not holding a competitive process.
It was part of a "positive action" scheme for ethnic minority officers to gain experience needed for promotion through "lateral" moves.
This coincided with revelations that West Yorkshire Police temporarily blocked applications from white British candidates to boost diversity.
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An independent review of the case, ordered by the police and crime commissioner, warned that the concept of white privilege "can often be seen as demonising white people and therefore building barriers to the learning".
The review, conducted by former assistant chief constable Kerrin Wilson, revealed significant tensions within the force.
White officers expressed "strong feelings of frustration" and felt "overlooked and undervalued".
Meanwhile, ethnic minority staff no longer wanted to participate in special promotion schemes as "the damage to their reputation is greater than the opportunity they may have been afforded".
Some minority officers now feel the force has become "a hostile environment".
The review warned that internal relations could turn hostile without action, noting a "tangible feeling of being overlooked" that "may well lead to even greater divides within the force as cultural attitudes become more hostile".
Police officers at one of Britain's biggest forces are being taught they have 'white privilege'
GETTYFormer police officer Rory Geoghegan criticised the approach, saying: "Police officers and staff deserve far better from their leaders than to be crudely categorised by skin colour and subjected to reductive, divisive ideologies."
He added that police chiefs risk creating "a serious, long-lasting fracture in public trust" by prioritising "the views of a few vocal stakeholders over their fundamental public duty".
A Thames Valley Police spokesman responded to the controversy, stating: "Our staff and officers represent a diverse group with a range of views on many issues but it's our shared values that bring us together to protect our communities."
The force added: "We are committed to learning from this employment tribunal and independent review to improve how we work together."
They concluded by emphasising their approach to policing: "We strive to be fair and courageous in how we serve our colleagues and the community."
