Victims of crime are being let down so badly by the justice system that they are less likely to report incidents again, a new report has found.

The research, based on official Government data and a new survey of 1,000 crime victims for national charity Victim Support, claims that victims are only being kept adequately updated in around half of all reported cases.

It found that victims hear nothing more from the authorities after reporting crime in about a third of incidents.

It also shows that there is a strong correlation between victims receiving information and reporting crime again, with 43% more likely to do so if they were kept informed.

Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said: "Time and again victims tell us that they've been kept in the dark by the criminal justice system.

"Lack of contact and information about their case can make them feel uncertain and isolated and worsen the distress caused by the crime itself.

"This not only erodes a victim's confidence in the justice system but as our report suggests, makes it less likely that they will report crime again."

Under the Crown Prosecution Service's Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, victims must be updated monthly about key events in their ongoing case, such as arrests, bail, charges, summons and remand.