Whoopi Goldberg wants police departments to re-teach cops ''how to police'' following the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 64-year-old actress believes the key to tackling systematic racism is forcing society to make a change as she claims children are ''taught'' to be racist ''without realising''.

Appearing on 'Watch What Happens Live', she said: ''Well, racism is in the heart of the country. You can't get away from it, children are taught it without realising that that's what they're learning.

''So, the first thing that has to happen is people have to first look at people and see them for who they are, not for who they fear they are, but for who they actually are.''

Whoopi's comments come after the death of George Floyd, who died when Derek Chauvin - a police officer in Minneapolis at the time - knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes, whilst two other cops restrained him and another prevented bystanders from intervening.

All four policemen have now been fired from the police force and arrested, with Chauvin facing a second-degree murder charge, and the three other officers charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Whoopi is hoping the federal government will make a stand and address those who have taken advantage of the justice system for their own views on race.

She continued: ''And then, you know, the good cops have to call out bad behavior so we can get rid of the bad cops and reteach police departments around the country how to police again. Because now they're soldiers, and we're not in a war, we're not in wars in our towns and neighborhoods.

''So, they must relearn how to police. And that is going to take the action of the federal government.''

But first, Whoopi believes society as a whole needs to address there is a problem before any change can happen.

She added: ''Everybody has to say, 'Yes, there is a problem and we see it and we want to fix it.' So, that's what has to happen.''