Decrease in NI hate crimes
New figures show 279 prosecutions last year
The number of hate crimes recorded in Northern Ireland has fallen for the second year in a row.
New figures show the PSNI received 335 prosecution files last year, while the Public Prosecution Service issued 279 prosecutorial decisions.
The police figures were down from 386 the previous year.
The majority of those cases submitted involved violence against the person offences and had a racial, sectarian or homophobic element.
A total of 131 defendants were convicted over hate crimes in the last year.
The PPS said it remained committed to working with the PSNI to cut down hate crimes.
Head of Policy and Information, Dr Richard Scullion, said: “These are distressing cases in which victims suffer simply because of their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
“The Public Prosecution Service understands the devastating effect hate crime has not just on the lives of its victims, but also the wider community. That is why we work hard to ensure the public can have confidence in the PPS playing its important role in the Criminal Justice System’s handling of these types of offences."