The number of criminal charges brought in Sussex has fallen by almost a quarter despite thousands more cases of reported crime over the past three years.
The BBC said that 104,000 crimes were reported to Sussex Police in 2016-17, up from 90,000 in 2014-15.
But the broadcaster said that 10,800 suspects were charged in 2016-17, compared with 14,100 in 2014-15.
Recorded crime rose 16 per cent locally, compared with 21 per cent nationally.
But the number of charges fell 23 per cent in Sussex, compared with 11 per cent nationally.
The BBC said: “Charges for criminal damage and arson in Sussex have fallen by 41 per cent in the last three years.”
It said that there were big drops also in the number of charges brought in other categories of crime, in particular, theft, violence, drugs, public order and robbery.
More people, though, were charged with having an offensive weapon.
