The number of rape suspects charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has fallen by almost a quarter over the last year, despite an increase in the number of allegations being reported to the police.

In 2017-18 the CPS charged 2,822 defendants with rape, almost 850 less than the previous year and the lowest in a decade.

But the fall - which continues a three year downward trend - comes at a time when complaints to the police are continuing to rise, almost doubling over the last five years.