Crown Prosecution Service figures show there were 111 people charged with race crimes in 2002/3 compared with 76 the previous year.

Of these, 78 went on to face court - a rise from 2001/2 when only 47 people proceeded to court.

Of the prosecutions last year, guilty pleas were entered on 71 charges with convictions after trial on 12 charges.

Sussex chief crown prosecutor Sarah Jane Gallagher said: "This report shows that we are getting better at dealing with cases involving racist incidents.

"We have launched a public policy statement on racially and religiously aggravated crime and made rapid progress towards our commitment to adopting responsibility for charging decisions.

"We are determined to work alongside police and communities to deal with these offences through the courts."