Cases of fraud have shot up in two areas of Ayrshire in the space of two years, new figures show.
In North Ayrshire, fraud has increased by a whopping 67 per cent, while South Ayrshire has experienced a 64 per cent rise.
In East Ayrshire, the figures have actually come down by 29 per cent.
The statistics come from Police Scotland and are based on recorded crime throughout the month of March 2022.
In South Ayrshire, there were 14 cases of fraud during the month of March 2020 – and that figure rose to 21 in March last year.
The figure for March this year stood at 23, representing a 10 per cent increase on 2021 – but a 64 per cent increase from 2020.
In North Ayrshire, 15 cases of fraud were investigated during the month of March 2020. The figure increased to 34 in March last year.
And while 25 cases were reported during March this year, representing a 26 per cent decrease on 2021, there’s been an overall increase by 67 per cent, when compared to March 2020.
In East Ayrshire, 21 cases of fraud were recorded in March 2020. This figure rose to 33 in the month of March last year.
In March this year, just 15 cases were recorded, representing a 29 per cent decrease.
South Scotland Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey said: “While Police Scotland do a terrific job at reaching out to residents to make them aware of fraudsters, it’s important that they have the resources they need to reach everyone.
"I’ll be calling on the SNP to give Police Scotland fairer funding.”
A spokesperson for justice secretary Keith Brown said the criticism from the Tories on Scotland’s justice system reeked of “hypocrisy”.
The spokesperson added: “Unlike the Tories, who disregard fraud as a lesser crime and exclude it when talking about crime statistics, we take very seriously the profound impact fraud has on its victims.”
Jamie Greene, West Scotland Conservative MSP said the SNP’s failure to properly resource local police was “hampering” their ability to crackdown on fraud.
He added: “Police numbers have fallen as a result of SNP cuts meaning fewer officers for tackling unscrupulous fraudsters and their operations.”
Meanwhile, SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham, said: “The SNP has increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17. Sadly, fraud is committed by a broad range of criminals.
"And although the victims might be here in Scotland, the criminals who target them often operate outwith Scotland. It can, therefore, be challenging to identify who they are and prosecute them appropriately.”
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