Public Confidence in the Public Prosecution Service (PPSNI) Continues to Rise
Date published:
New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) reveal increasing public confidence in the effectiveness of Northern Ireland's principal prosecuting authority.
Key findings:
- 87.7% of respondents surveyed had heard of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, demonstrating consistently high public awareness.
- 57% of respondents were very or fairly confident that the PPS is effective at prosecuting people accused of committing a crime - a significant increase from 45.8% in 2023.
- Confidence levels were highest among those aged 65 and over, with 65.1% expressing confidence in the PPS's effectiveness.
- 90.5% of male respondents had heard of the PPS compared to 85.4% of female respondents.
- Similar awareness levels were found between Catholic respondents (89.5%) and Protestant respondents (89.8%).
- Older age groups were more likely to have heard of the PPS, with 94.7% of those aged 65+ responding positively compared to 69.8% of those under 25.
About the publication
The full report provides analysis of:
- Public awareness of the PPS across different demographic groups
- Confidence levels in the PPS's effectiveness at prosecuting cases
- Comparative data showing trends from previous years
- Detailed breakdowns by age, gender, and religion
About the Public Prosecution Service
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, is the principal prosecuting authority in Northern Ireland. Its primary role is to reach decisions to prosecute or not to prosecute and to have responsibility for the conduct of criminal proceedings. The PPS also considers cases investigated by other statutory authorities, such as HM Revenue and Customs, and offers alternatives to prosecution including cautions, informed warnings, and youth conferencing.
Further information
Read the full report: Perceptions of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland 2024/25