Dropped prosecution rate 'too high'

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The service said its "throw-out rate" had improved but said it needed to do more.

Cases including burglary, theft, assault and drugs charges had to be abandoned as a result of the failings, The Times reported.

The figures will be released in a report by the inspectors of the CPS.

CPS chief inspector Stephen Wooler said the issue had been raised in previous inspectors' reports.

He said there "continued to be too high a number" of abandoned cases.

In total 2,325 cases were not prosecuted because CPS personnel were not ready, it says.

That represents some 2.5% of the total number of cases that should go to Crown Court.

The paper reported that magistrates, who decide if cases should go to the higher court, were taking a tougher line with prosecutors who are not ready.