The Metropolitan police are to relax their rules on headgear to allow Muslim WPCs to wear their traditional headscarves as part of a move to boost recruitment from the ethnic communities. The permissible scarves, which could replace the cap or hat this summer, are edged in the distinctive black and white chequered band of the police.

It is also reported that the Met is to recruit disabled people in wheelchairs to monitor street cameras, to release able-bodied officers to return to the streets. The plan is similar to a successful scheme in San Diego.

Businessmen and women are to be asked to volunteer to help the police with administration and desk jobs. Professionals, such as accountants, will be asked to help analyse crime trends.

Met chiefs yesterday admitted that the prejudices of a minority of officers were giving the force a bad name and holding it back from much-needed reforms. Discrimination against gay, female and disabled officers, as well as jealousies between full and part-time officers, civilian and police staff, were all problems identified in a reappraisal of the Scotland Yard response to the Lawrence report.

The prime minister will on Wednesday outline plans to tackle the problems of the Met, with a campaign based on the principle of "inclusivity".