Racial slurs among probation officers were dismissed as 'banter' and ethnic minority staff were handed the cases of race hate criminals without being consulted, a watchdog said.
One probation officer was even propositioned by a white male colleague because 'he had not had sex with a black woman before', a report on race equality in the service found.
Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said the findings were 'disappointing' and said staff did not feel experiences of racism had been taken seriously.
Inspectors said they heard 'distressing stories' of inappropriate behaviour towards ethnic minority staff including instances of 'stereotyping, racist and sexualised language, and false allegations'.