Guidelines for prosecuting race and religious hate crimes have been published by the attorney general.

Lord Goldsmith said on Monday that no defendant would be able to escape hate crime charges by claiming an alternative motive.

"A racially or religiously motivated attack is an attack on the whole community," he said.

"This policy sends a clear message to perpetrators that they will not get away with threatening, violent or abusive behaviour.

"Ten years after the murder of Stephen Lawrence, it demonstrates how the criminal justice system is continuing to move forward to gain the confidence of black and minority ethnic communities."

The document, which details how the Crown Prosecution Service should handle hate crimes and policy towards communicating with victims and witnesses, follows consultations with more than 120 groups and faith communities.

In 2002 the number of racially-motivated cases passed to the CPS increased by 13 per cent, while the number of defendants prosecuted rose by 17 per cent.

Since the law came into force in December 2001, there have been 40 cases of religious violence, of which 11 have resulted in convictions with 17 still going through the courts.

"Racially and religiously motivated cases are some of the hardest for the CPS to prosecute," said Lord Goldsmith.

But he pointed to a conviction rate of 83 per cent as a sign of success.

"This policy makes clear that the CPS will do all it can to bring those guilty of these crimes to justice," he added.

The statement was also published with the support of director of public prosecutions, Sir David Calvert-Smith QC.

"Racist and religious crime can have a devastating effect on both victims and on communities as a whole, leaving them feeling isolated, fearful and vulnerable," he said.

"We are determined to prosecute robustly wherever and whenever we can. We have published this policy because we want victims, witnesses and their families, as well as the general public, to understand that we understand the serious nature of this type of crime.

"What people told us about their concerns and experiences has helped us to have a better understanding of the things that are important to them and that we need to know about when we deal with cases.

"By putting this policy into practice we aim to build more effective cases and bring more offenders to justice."

The move was welcomed by both race and religious groups.

"Laws against racism and violence are of little use without a serious will to implement the legislation and a determination to take action," said Barry Mussenden from Blacks Racial Attacks Independent Network.

"This public statement indicates such a will and sends out a clear signal of the need to tackle racial and religious violence with the full weight of the law."

Michael Whine, from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the statement followed years of campaigning.

"The Jewish community has long campaigned for more effective legislation against those who incite racial and religious hatred, and as tensions threaten to mount once again, the publication of the public policy statement should provide a clear sign to perpetrators, victims, the police and the CPS itself of its growing resolve to tackle this blight which threatens to fracture society," he said.