The justice system was challenged today to enforce tough new plans to lock up racist thugs in Northern Ireland for up to 14 years.
In an attempt to halt an onslaught of attacks on ethnic minority groups across the North, the authorities have announced a proposed legislative crackdown on hate crimes.
Homophobes and bigots also face longer prison sentences under the draft Criminal Justice (NI) Order.
But with Asians and Africans in parts of Belfast being forced to flee their homes, representatives insisted that the proposals were worthless if more tormentors are not captured.
Patrick Yu, head of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said: "We don't have confidence in the whole criminal justice system if no one is prosecuted. There are cases with strong evidence but the Director of Public Prosecution drops them without any reason. What we need to do is put more of these people in jail."
The new plans outlined by Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar would require judges to take into account any racial, religious or sexual orientation factors when sentencing.
Sentencing powers where violent attacks are connected to so-called hate crimes would also increase.
Maximum jail terms for offences such as grievous bodily harm would rise from five to seven years, while the tariff for criminal damage would go up from 10 to 14 years.