HOME SECRETARY Jack Straw today launched a tough crackdown on "despicable" racially motivated crimes.

The Blackburn MP unveiled new proposals that would add two years to the prison sentence of thugs whose attack was sparked by race hate.

He told the conference: "Modern Britain is a multi-racial, multi-religious society where more British people now attend Mosque regularly than they do the Anglican or Methodist church.

"Yet still there is discrimination and prejudice and too few opportunities for Black and Asian people, too many glass ceilings, too many closed doors.

"Racism goes against all the value we hold so dear - decency, fairness, equality.

"Racist crimes are among the most despicable of all crimes. They strike at the heart of a decent society.

"It was just such a racist attack that killed black teenager Stephen Lawrence four years ago in South London.

"Nothing will ever stem the grief which Stephen's parents and family feel over the loss of their son.

"I have met his parents, they have been punished twice for no-one has been brought to justice for killing their son.

"That is why I set up a judicial inquiry which I hope will at last discover the lessons to be learned from the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence."

"Those who commit racist crimes should expect severe punishment. So today I am publishing details of how we will deliver our long standing promise to create new offences for racial harassment and racially-motivated violence."

Mr Straw also announced that young thugs are to be confronted in court by their victims as part of a new drive to open up the youth justice system. He also hinted at easing reporting restrictions on under-18 criminals when he pledged to tackle the "secret garden" which Britain's youth courts had become.

And he wanted magistrates to allow those who suffer at the hands of young crooks to be able to see what happens to their persecutors and the youths themselves to realise the damage their "selfish" actions cause.

The Blackburn MP said that action to speed up and streamline the system was vital to end the soaring rates of juvenile delinquency that were blighting whole areas of Britain.

He told the conference: "I shall change the way in which our youth courts operate. They have become a "Secret Garden".

"The names of offenders never published. The press hamstrung to report anything at all. Even the victim excluded - not allowed into court except as a witness.

"The system should be there to work for the victim and the public. We must afford much more dignity to the victims of crime and give them a chance to see how justice is dispensed."

"I am pleased to announce that we will be encouraging youth court magistrates to allow victims into their courts.

"Up and down the country communities are blighted by the behaviour of youngsters who have got the idea that they can get away with their crimes. "A handful of youngsters in any area can be arrested 40 or 50 times or more, but nothing effective is done - endless cautions and no action.

"And it is not just the lives of victims which are ruined by youth crime but the lives of those young offenders themselves."

Mr Straw promised action in his Crime and Disorder Bill to force young criminals to repair the damage they do, to make parents responsible for their children, and to ensure young children are not left roaming the streets at night through curfews.

He also promised the replacement of repeat cautioning with a final warning system to nip offending in the bud and more secure accommodation for dangerous young criminals.

Mr Straw said there would be zero tolerance of loutish behaviour and race crimes where a racial motivation will result in heavier sentences with two years extra in jail and no decriminalisation of cannabis.

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