BBC News Online's Richard Powell spoke to one Asian man who saw that programme and has decided to abandon any plans he had to join the police force.

Nassar Gill has worked for a building society where he lives in Sparkhill, Birmingham, for eight years.

In his early 40s, he had recently decided on a change of career to add his representation and experience as an ethnic minority recruit to the British police force.

But following Tuesday's broadcasting of The Secret Policeman - an undercover documentary that exposed racism among new recruits at a training police centre in Cheshire - he has thrown his application papers in the bin.

"Shock is the least word you could use to describe my feelings about last night's programme," Mr Gill said.

Best intentions

"My idea was to join the police force to overcome these sorts of issues, but having viewed last night's documentary exposing racism - which is prevalent in the police force - and showing the attitudes of the officers concerned, I believe the whole force's image will be tarnished.

"People from ethnic minorities will be having second thoughts about wanting to join."

Mr Gill was outraged at the lack of stringent policies in place at the point of entry for new officers.

GMP suspended five police officers after the programme was filmed

"Last night's programme highlighted that anyone can join the police these days with these sorts of attitudes. It would be interesting to know just how many police officers share the same attitudes as Pc Robert Pulling," he said.

Mr Gill added he was sad not to be able to pursue a police career path following the airing of the programme and urged the police to "flush out" racist elements in the force before recruiting any further.

"I'm sure more people will join when they think changes have been made, like introducing stricter policies at the point of entry - from the hierarchy to the most junior level.

"The police need to look into their own house first before they start recruiting again," he said.

Personal experience

Mr Gill says one of his friends - of Asian descent - had a bitter experience of racism in the police force and left because of it.

He added his 21-year old nephew had considered entering the force, but had changed his mind a year ago citing fears of racism.

"But racism is rife in any big institution from the banking level to the police force."

He added he had experienced racism first hand in his job at the building society.

It's only the tip of the iceberg - I wanted to make a career path out of this, but I've made my mind up now Nassar Gill

"I've worked there for eight years and there is racism there, but not in any open way. If you did something wrong, you were picked on because on your colour," he said.

Mr Gill says he was "delighted" with the exposing nature of The Secret Policeman, despite the fact journalist Mark Daly uncovered the information under false pretences.

"I would like to see more of these reports," he said.

He added he did not accept that the racist views portrayed in the programme were held by only a very small number of the members of the police force as a whole, as the programme and police claimed.

"It's only the tip of the iceberg," he said.

"It was all highlighted in that documentary - how can they justify that it is only a minority that hold these views, and if it is just a few people, then why haven't the police rooted these problems out?" he asked.