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Fewer cases referred by the police this year, but more prosecutions and conviction rate up by 10% over a four year period
Improved conviction rates for homophobia
Improved conviction rate for homophobic hate crime
Figures released today by the Crown Prosecution Service show an improvement in the conviction rate for homophobic hate crime.
In its second annual Hate Crime Report, the CPS revealed that more than 3,400 people were prosecuted for crimes involving homophobia or transphobia in the four years ending in March 2009.
Over the same period, the conviction rate rose by 10%, to 81%. Guilty pleas increased from 58% to 67% from the predominantly male (86%) defendants, with offences against the person being the most common. The White British category made up 78% of defendants.
The report also shows that the number of homophobic offences prosecuted this year increased compared with 2007-8's figure despite fewer cases overall being referred to the CPS by the police.
The CPS accepted that the 2008-9 target to reduce unsuccessful outcomes to 18% was not reached, with 20.8% being achieved by the fourth quarter.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, said: "The CPS regards homophobic and transphobic crimes as particularly serious because they undermine people's right to feel safe about, and be safe in, their sexual orientation. We are determined to play our part in bringing these offences to justice and supporting victims and witnesses.
"This report shows that our performance in prosecuting these cases has continuously improved over the past four years. However, we recognise that there is still room for improvement in the way we deal with homophobic and transphobic hate crime. For example, we want to do more to support victims of this type of crime and keep them engaged with cases.
"People from all communities have a legitimate expectation to be protected from the prejudice and discrimination that are at the root of hate crime and the CPS is determined to play its part in doing this."
