Police officers disciplined for racist behaviour will not necessarily be sacked, according to new guidelines.

The Police Complaints Authority has proposed that some officers found to have used racially discriminatory behaviour should be retrained rather than dismissed from their jobs.

Such a move would go against the recommendations of the landmark Macpherson inquiry into the death of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

The PCA argued there are other ways of dealing with the issue and that it was often difficult to prove direct discrimination.

Often investigations have to establish a pattern of behaviour to establish that an officer is racist.

The authority also pointed to statistics showing that of 258 official complaints about racism, 246 were unproven.

"The way in which to question police officers and witnesses to establish whether they were motivated by race has long been a problem for the police service and the PCA," said PCA chairman Sir Alistair Graham.

"These guidelines have been developed together with experienced officers from professional standards departments and expert independent consultants with the intention that they should provide a sensible approach to the development of good practice."

The new guidelines were backed by the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Federation and the National Black Police Association.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which also investigates the conduct of officers, also welcomed the new approach.

"I very much welcome this report and congratulate the PCA on the work they have done. This will be an important area of work for the IPCC and we have an absolute commitment to taking forward the work the PCA have begun," said chairman Nick Hardwick.