The clearance rate for racist attacks in Northern Ireland was "disappointing and unacceptable", the PSNI has admitted.
The Police Service has appealed for community assistance in the drive to improve its performance.
Figures released yesterday for the year ended last March show 189 offences were committed which had a racial element. A further 37 "racial incidents" were recorded.
A breakdown of the 189 offences revealed there were just seven prosecutions, seven cases which are either still under investigation or in which a decision to prosecute is awaited, and another five cases which were dealt with by way of advice and warning.
In the remaining 170 offences there was no further police action.
The statistics were supplied to a Community Involvement Committee meeting of the Policing Board in Belfast yesterday.
Acting Assistant Chief Constable Ms Judith Gillespie said: "The Police Service is absolutely committed to making those individuals who perpetrate these incidents accountable to the law. However, in many of the incidents reported to police the perpetrator is not known, there are no other witnesses to the incident and many incidents are not reported until some time later.
"In these circumstances, it is extremely difficult for the police to make someone amenable."
A PSNI statement claimed measures are being implemented to address the issue.
Officers are working closely with voluntary and statutory agencies following the recent upsurge in attacks in the Village area of south Belfast. "Hate crime" leaflets are also being delivered to 29,000 homes in south Belfast.
The Anti-Racism Network has claimed the incidence of racial crime is dropping, a claim supported by the PSNI.
This follows a spate of racial attacks, especially in south Belfast last month, which included the intimidation of estate agents, who are under pressure not to let property to members of ethnic minority communities.
Last week the UVF said it has "stood down" its leader in the Village after a series of racist attacks in the area.