Jim Wallace: "Racist crime will not be tolerated"

The executive said a recent change in the law meant all crimes with a racially aggravated element must now be recorded separately.

The report identified measures already taken by the police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to tackle racist violence.

The act introduced two new offences of racially aggravated crime into Scots law and gave the courts power to increase sentences.

The report's key findings include:

• Some 450 cases involving racist offences were processed in Scottish courts during 1999 and 2000

• During the same period 45 such cases involving young people aged between nine and 16 went to children's hearings, while 161 cases reached the children's reporter

• The most common type of incident reported to minority ethnic organisations involved verbal abuse and threats

• The need for a distinction between racist crimes and racist incidents should be made clear to the public and to complainers

• A standard definition of racist incidents and crimes and a standard format for recording them should be developed and used by all Scottish police forces

• Routine feedback to victims of crime should be given a higher priority by the procurator fiscal service.

In addition, the report details ways in which the criminal justice system can improve on the work carried out by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Steering Group.

Mr Wallace said it was paramount that racist crime was tackled in Scottish society.

"This report shows the vigorous response being taken by the police and criminal justice agencies to tackle the problem of racial violence and harassment," the minister said.

"Racist attacks on individuals, organisations, premises or groups have no place in Scotland today.

Colin Boyd: "Vigorous stance"

"We have repeatedly made clear that racially-motivated crime will not be tolerated and that the police are fully prepared and ready to respond."

Scotland's Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC, the country's senior law officer, reaffirmed the prosecution service's determination to tackle racist crime.

"Scotland is not free from racism or racist crime," Mr Boyd said.

"Scotland's prosecutors are committed to a vigorous anti-racist stance and to the prosecution of racist crime.

"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will consider with care the recommendations made in the report to ascertain where further action is necessary.

"I have asked the Solicitor General, Mrs Elish Angiolini QC, who chairs the department's Race Strategy Group, to oversee the progress of this essential work."