In the force’s response to the consultation on hate crime laws, it said legislation “should equally balance the human rights of all within society”.

Judge Desmond Marrinan was appointed last summer to lead the independent review of hate crime legislation, which was originally due to be completed by May but will now report “at the end of November”.

In Scotland, new hate crime laws under consideration by the Scottish Parliament have been criticised by the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates for encroaching on freedom of expression.

The PSNI, which backs the consolidation of all hate crime and hate speech legislation in Northern Ireland, said MLAs should consider including a defence of freedom of expression in laws on stirring up hatred or arousing fear.