East Ayrshire has been named among the "most dangerous" areas in Scotland, according to research investigating crime statistics.
Researchers at security company Churchill Support Services examined data across the country to determine the local authorities with the highest crime rate per 10,000 people. They used the latest available stats available on the Scottish Government Statistics website, covering July 2021 through to June 2022.
East Ayrshire has been named in the top 10 alongside the likes of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.
On East Ayrshire, the company said: "Home to the sprawling town of Kilmarnock, as well as a rich, storied history told through its many castles and stately homes. It’s also a popular destination for ramblers, with many popular walking routes taking in the scenic Loch Doon.
"While East Ayrshire occupies the lowest spot on our list, there’s still some inherent danger, with 836 crimes taking place for every 10,000 people in East Ayrshire, although there’s low stats in many of the key areas of Scotland security concern, like violent crimes and robbery.
"However, one key point to keep in mind is that East Ayrshire has one of the highest statistics for theft outside of the five most dangerous areas of Scotland, with 166 incidents per 10,000 people."
Top 10 most dangerous areas according to the company:
1. Dundee
2. Glasgow
3. Dumfries and Galloway
4. West Dunbartonshire
5. Aberdeen
6. North Lanarkshire
7. Edinburgh
8. Clackmannanshire
9. Perth and Kinross
10. East Ayrshire
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