Justice Minister Amy Adams says there has been a significant drop in the number of defendants gaining permanent name suppression since 2011.

The Criminal Procedure Act 2011 changed how name suppression is granted, and Ms Adams' figures show the numbers of defendants receiving permanent name suppression over the past five years have now halved.

Ms Adams says the number of defendants receiving interim name suppression has remained relatively static, with 1232 in 2011 falling slightly to 1191 in 2015.

Permanent name suppression orders in the High Court and District Courts