Police face fury over lost, damaged or missing evidence (Image: Getty)

       Fury has erupted over thousands of victims missing out on justice because of lost, damaged or missing evidence.

       At least 70 murder and manslaughter cases and more than 550 sexual offence investigations have collapsed due to the blunders.

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       In total, more than 30,000 prosecutions in England and Wales have collapsed between October 2020 and September 2024, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) data reveals.

       Alarmingly for victims, the number of cases falling apart due to lost, damaged or missing evidence is rising.

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       Labour has vowed to improve policing in the UK (Image: Getty)

       When the CPS cannot proceed to trial because police do not have the necessary evidence needed to secure a conviction - they record it in their data as an "E72".

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       Some 7,484 prosecutions collapsed in 2020, rising 9%, to 8,180 last year.

       The disclosure – through Freedom of Information laws – will prompt a renewed crisis of confidence in England and Wales’s crumbling criminal justice system.

       Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis, said: “Every instance of a sexual offence case being dropped due to lost or damaged evidence represents not only a failure of our system to adequately respond to rape, but a devastating blow to the survivor who came forward in the hope of justice and accountability.

       "These figures are deeply concerning. Survivors of sexual violence already face huge barriers to reporting what happened to them, and many describe the criminal justice process itself as re-traumatising.

       "For their cases to be dropped because of damaged or missing evidence only compounds that trauma, and undermines our justice system in its entirety.”

       Neil Henderson CEO of Safeline, a specialist charity that works to prevent sexual abuse, said the latest report is "just another example" of how victims are "being let down."

       He told GB News: "It’s another kick in the teeth for victims, who are being let down left, right and centre.

       "Losing evidence is just another example of being let down. The victims are already finding it really hard to get the justice they deserve."

       "It’s one more bad example of victims of being let down by the whole system, and we are seeing a big decrease of victims not coming forward because they have lost faith in the system.”

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       Police chiefs said the E72 classification could include cases where officers were unable to find expert witnesses.

       A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “Police and the CPS work together to ensure evidence is gathered and presented in a timely manner, bringing offenders to justice and ensuring victims are safeguarded.

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       “The E72 category refers to evidence that is either missing or unavailable when a defendant is going to trial following being charged.

       “For example, police may not be able to find an expert witness to give evidence or it may be that a required medical statement cannot be obtained.

       “When evidential issues occur in a case, the CPS will raise this with police for any action deemed necessary and we will work together to ensure these are resolved wherever possible.”