Police are solving half as many crimes as four years ago with under one in 13 offences leading to a prosecution, official figures reveal.

The number of offences resulting in a charge has fallen from 15.5 per cent in 2014/15 to a record low of 7.4 per cent in 2018/19, with rape charges dropping to just 1.4 per cent, according to Home Office data.

It came as it was revealed knife crime rose by seven per cent to a record high, helping to push overall offending in England and Wales to its highest level in 15 years. Robberies were up to a 12-year high, while firearms, rape, vehicle theft and fraud also increased.

Police and crime experts blamed the fall in charges on shortages of detectives, the increasing complexity of investigations and forces screening out high-volume offences unlikely to be solved at an earlier stage.

Lord Stevens, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said: “It’s because of the decimation of the detective force needed to investigate some of these offences, as well as the lack of neighbourhood policing.

“The other issue is the judicial system and ability to prosecute. It’s taking time to take these cases through court, and cover the discovery of documents. The whole criminal justice system has slowed down and is in trouble.”