Nearly 100 people suspected of hate crime and domestic violence offences have been arrested in special raids today.

More than 300 police officers across London made one arrest for homophobic attacks and nine for racist crimes. By 10am the Operation Athena team had detained 87 suspects for domestic violence.

The operation comes shortly after a racist incident in Camden, where an Iraqi woman in Muslim dress was hit with a toolbox, kicked and spat at.

In the last year before October around 15,000 racist incidents and 1,500 homophobic offences were reported to the Met. Hounslow saw the most racist crimes (771), followed by Westminster (653) and Greenwich (649).

The homophobic murder of gay barman David Morley, who was beaten to death on the South Bank in October, brought hate crime to the public's attention.

Hot spots for homophobic offences in 2003/04 include Westminster (139), Lambeth (118) and Southwark (95).

Apart from racist and homophobic motives, hate crime also includes abuse of disabled and elderly people. It ranges from violence and financial control to harassment and verbal abuse.

Around 106,000 cases of domestic violence were reported in the last year, accounting for a quarter of all reported violent incidents and murders in London. Domestic violence was rife in Lambeth (3,385), Croydon (3,087) and Newham (3,045).

The Met is now training front line officers across the capital to spot factors posing a high risk to the victims. These include sexual assault, pregnancy and births, cultural issues and stalking. Police intervention in such cases can prevent further violence and murder.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve House said abusers must know "what they are doing is wrong, is criminal and that the Met will act to stop this".