Places of worship across Northern Ireland have been subject to nearly 450 recorded attacks over the last three years, prompting calls for immediate action to protect churches and other religious buildings.
Following a freedom of information request, CARE NI revealed that there were 445 crimes recorded as criminal damage to religious buildings, churchyards or cemeteries in Northern Ireland across the 11 policing districts in the last three years.
Damage includes arson, paint and graffiti being sprayed on buildings and damage both internally and externally to property.