Less than one in 20 street robberies and burglaries are being solved in the UK, shocking new figures have revealed.

Official police data shows that just four per cent of robberies and three per cent of burglaries were solved in England and Wales in 2017.

The figures will fuel concerns that there is a crisis in the nation's policing, with one MP describing London as 'the Wild West'.

Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire had the lowest rate of solved crime in 2017, while the most crimes were solved in Uttlesford in Essex

In more than 1,000 neighbourhoods with at least 30 crimes, the police failed to catch and punish any of the suspects, The Sunday Times report.

Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, south Buckinghamshire, south Cambridgeshire, Blackpool and Preston had the lowest rates of solved crime, according to figures.

Meanwhile the most crimes, 26 per cent, were solved in Uttlesford in Essex last year, followed by Boston, Merthyr Tydfil, Darlington and County Durham.

The number of police officers in England and Wales is at its lowest level since the late 1980s, with a significant drop between 2010 and 2017

The figures also reveal that only nine per cent of suspects in all crimes are caught and punished - a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the past five years.

The worrying statistics will add to concerns about the surge of violent crime in the UK, particularly in London.

Scores of violent attacks and muggings have been reported in the capital, with many incidents involving mopeds and knives.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid was among those targeted. He revealed his phone was swiped outside Euston Station when he was communities secretary.

This month comedian Michael McIntyre was mugged for his £15,000 Rolex watch by armed thugs while doing the school run in north London.

And BBC radio presenter Eddie Mair was attacked by hooded youths on bikes as he boarded a bus in the capital last December.

Two moped thugs seconds before they stabbed a charity worker to death in Little Venice. The pair attacked nine members of the public in two hours on October 16 last year

Terrifying dashcam footage on the London's North Circular Road in Finchley shows a moped mugger seconds before he jumps on a motorist's bonnet in a vicious watch robbery

Police data shows that the percentage of all crimes solved by police has plummeted from 19 per cent in 2013 to just nine per cent in 2017.

Perpetrators in violent and sexual offences were brought to justice only in eight per cent of cases last year - a mere third of those in 2013.

The percentage of all crimes solved by police has plummeted (left) and perpetrators in violent and sexual offences were brought to justice only in eight per cent of cases last year (right)

Solved burglary cases halved from six per cent in 2013 to three per cent in 2017 (left) and robbery cases from nine per cent to four per cent in the same period (right)

Meanwhile, solved burglary cases halved from six per cent in 2013 to three per cent in 2017, and robbery cases from nine per cent to four per cent in the same period.

There were 159 robberies in Holloway Road and Highgate Hill last year, making them the streets most plagued by moped gang crime.

However, just one offender was caught and punished.

UK crime went up 13% in 2017 with sex offences, knife and gun crime among the biggest risers

London's knife crime epidemic has also spread to the Home Counties.

Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Norfolk and north Wales' rates of knife crime have all increased by more than 100 per cent in the past three years.

According to police forces with some of the best detection rates, having officers on patrol plays a crucial role in solving crime.

But the number of officers in England and Wales is at its lowest level since the late 1980s.

There were 23,552 fewer officers in 2017 than there were in 2010.

Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Norfolk and north Wales' rates of knife crime have all increased by more than 100 per cent in the past three years

Some of the scores of terrifying blades recovered by officers in London in the past year

The Met police told The Sunday Times: 'Solving crime is a key priority for the Met.

'Burglary presents particular challenges and we accept there is more work to be done — and are always seeking ways to increase the number of crimes we solve.'

It said it was also putting a 'huge amount of effort' into tackling moped-related crime.