Enhanced training and new guidelines for Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers dealing with racially aggravated incidents have paid off, leading to fewer discontinued cases and a better rapport with ethnic minority communities, research has suggested.

The report from the CPS Inspectorate said an overhauled case management system and new policies on dealing with victims and witnesses in a sensitive manner had produced real improvements since the last study into how race crimes are handled took place two years ago.

Victims are also given more comprehensive explanations as to why charges are reduced or dropped.

However, the report warned that the CPS was sometimes still inappropriately downgrading charges with a racial element and using inexperienced prosecutors in court.

It said this was causing disillusion about the criminal justice system among ethnic minorities.

CPS Inspectorate chief inspector Stephen Wooler stressed: 'It will be important for the service to continue to build on what has been achieved since 2002.'

Paula Rohan