Three quarters of all crimes committed in Sussex during the last two years have gone unpunished and Sussex Police has one of the worst clear-up rates.

Shocking new figures reveal the force has failed to solve 75 per cent of all crimes reported since 2004.

It comes almost exactly a year after the brutal rape and murder of Jennifer Kiely, 35, on Eastbourne seafront, still Sussex's most high-profile unsolved case.

Sussex Police finished 2005 joint 31st on a list of 44 national forces with only 25 per cent of reported crimes in 2004 and 2005 being solved. In 2003 and 2004 they had an even worse record, solving only 24 per cent.

In comparison, the best police force, Dyfed Powys in mid-Wales, had a 43 per cent detection rate in 2004 and 2005. City of London Police's rate was 36 per cent during the last two years.

A spokesman for Sussex Victim Support said: "These figures show how many criminals are getting away scot-free."

Solicitor General Mike O'Brien released the figures after a Parliamentary question by Andrew Turner, MP for the Isle of Wight. He called the clear-up rates by the police forces in Sussex and Hampshire which solved 28 per cent of reported crime "extremely low".

He said: "Prosecution is pretty conservative these days and the system is weighted in favour of non-prosecution."

Of all the unpunished crimes in 2005 the rape and murder of Jennifer Kiely is one of the most serious.

Thousands of pounds have been spent trying to catch the attacker who stabbed the 35-year-old mum-of-three 16 times on January 22, 2005.

Police say the case is still active and they are awaiting forensic test results.

Sussex Deputy Chief Constable Joe Edwards said his force had actually detected 15 per cent more offences during 2005 and that 2004's detection rates had dragged down the overall figure.

He said: "The chance of your home being burgled is half what it was ten years ago. Sussex is safer."

Brighton MP David Lepper said: "I think that Det Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine is doing a good job."