More than 20 sexual offence cases were dropped by Hampshire police in just two years due to lost, damaged or missing evidence.

A total of 465 of Hampshire’s prosecutions collapsed between October 2022 and September 2024 due to the “E72” missing evidence category, 22 of which were defendants facing sexual offences.

The figures were branded "deeply concerning" by Ciara Bergman, CEO of support charity Rape Crisis, who argued "survivors of sexual violence already face huge barriers" to reporting what has happened to them.

She said: "Every instance of a sexual offence case being dropped due to lost or missing 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.

"It is crucial that police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service work together to understand how and why such sensitive and important evidence is being lost, and take urgent steps to prevent further losses."

Dropped defendants equate to 2.2 per cent of all Hampshire’s charges handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service, data compiled by the BBC's Shared Data Unit, and analysed by the Echo, found.

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This can include statements, expert witnesses not being found, medical records not being available and forensic evidence, which could have been destroyed by a third party.

Michaela-Clare Addison, national sexual violence lead at Victim Support, said that deciding to report incidents to the police can often be a "complex and difficult decision" for victims.

"It is critical that every effort is made to ensure these crimes are taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and evidence is handled appropriately and sensitively," she said.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police clarified that the E72 category is not simply about “lost” evidence, but covers evidence that is not available or is missing.

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The spokesperson said: “Our investigation teams work incredibly hard to get justice for our victims and work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure we have done everything we can to get a case to the point where an offender is charged.

“Getting to this point relies on high-quality investigations and often pain-staking work to secure and analyse all available evidence to ensure the strongest case is put before a jury.

“As the data shows, this does happen with a very small percentage of our cases and when it does, we work with the CPS to see what can be done to overcome these issues and if necessary, what action can be taken to prevent it happening again.”

'One victim not getting the justice they deserve is one too many' - PCC Donna Jones

The Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said it is paramount that evidence is collected and stored appropriately.The Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said it is paramount that evidence is collected and stored appropriately. (Image: Stock) The Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said that it is "paramount" evidence is "collected and stored appropriately" to support investigations.

She said: “As PCC I am committed to fighting for every victim of sexual abuse. One victim not getting the justice they deserve, is one victim too many. I will always fight for justice and what is right.

“That’s why, last year, I invested in a specialist forensic facility in Eastleigh which has been purpose built to ensure it meets the standards set by the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR).

“I will continue to hold the force to account to maintain the highest standards and deliver justice.

“Victims of sexual violence are able to access support, from first report right through the court process, post-sentence or if the trial is vacated, via charities and organisations I fund across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

The CPS told the Echo that if a case is stopped, the Victims Right to Review Scheme can be used, where another senior CPS lawyer can review it to se if a charging decision can be made.