Over 320 people appear before District Court for offences relating to possession of child pornography since 2019

More than 320 people have been brought before the courts for offences relating to the possession of child pornography over the past four years.

Figures from the Courts Service detail how 80 people were charged with possession of imagery or videos of child sexual exploitation last year in relation to 126 separate offences.

The figures were slightly down on 2021 when 87 people were before the District Courts charged with 178 separate offences.

The Courts Service data also shows that nearly 90% of the child pornography offences that come before the District Court are sent on for trial at a higher court, reflecting the seriousness with which the crime is taken.