PROSECUTORS have taken the fight against hate crimes into local surgeries, community centres and libraries.

North Yorkshire's Crown Prosecution Service has sent out thousands of leaflets about its work over the last year to organisations and institutions across the county.

Prosecutors hope the initiative will encourage more people suffering from racial hatred, partner beating or homophobic crimes to come forward.

The county's conviction rate in crimes against gay people and domestic violence is just over half.

A CPS spokesman said: "There is information in this leaflet that we are keen for people to see such as the hate crime prosecution statistics. There is still work to be done to encourage people to come forward and report crimes such as domestic violence, racially motivated or homophobic offences.

"We want people to know that we are committed to pursuing prosecutions for hate crimes and that victims and witnesses of any crime will be supported through the prosecution process."

Six homophobic crimes were reported in 2005/06, double the number for the preceding 12 months.

Only three ended in convictions and the CPS is keen to increase the number of cases and convictions.

Racial crimes got an 81 per cent conviction rate over the same period.

Apart from highlighting its work on racial and homophobic crimes, the leaflet also highlights work in protecting women in the home, and warned that men too can be victims of domestic abuse. But the service only got convictions in 55 per cent of domestic violence cases in 2005/06.

Often cases are dropped when the victim drops his or her allegation.

The leaflet says that North Yorkshire CPS wants to raise its conviction rate by helping victims feel secure enough to take the case through to the end and stresses its work with specialist police officers and Women's Aid representatives.

The leaflets are a bid to update community groups and business leaders about the work of the CPS over the last 12 months.

It replaces the annual report, a small booklet which each branch of the CPS has produced every year in the past.

Anyone interested in finding out more about North Yorkshire CPS or who wants a copy of the leaflet can contact it at Athena House, Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4XF.