The number of sex crimes reported in Ayrshire has fallen by nearly 20 per cent, according to a new police report.
The Police Scotland performance report for the first financial quarter of 2022/23 shows that 167 sex crimes were reported in the region, a decrease of 40 on the number reported in the same period last year.
That equates to a drop of almost 20 per cent.
Of those reported, 118 (71 per cent) were detected compared to 45 per cent in 2021-22.
Serious assaults also saw a drop – from 42 to 31 with officers detecting 81 per cent of those reported in the first period of 2022/23.
Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain, Police Scotland’s Divisional Commander for Ayrshire, said: “We remain committed to tackling sexual offences as well as our work which contributes towards changing attitudes on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls by building on our successful 'Don’t Be That Guy' campaign as a key strand in the development of our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.
“I also believe that victims of sexual crime continue to be confident that Police Scotland officers will carry out a robust inquiry and have the confidence to report any crime against them.
“Our school campus officers have played their part by raising awareness amongst the young people at schools across the three local authority areas.”
CS Hussain is also pleased with the drop in serious assaults, saying: “The drop in the number of serious assaults is welcome but we will not be complacent and continue to work closely in partnership to keep our communities safe.
“It is also testament to the hard work, diligence and commitment of our officers.”
Crimes committed online, or via digital media, continue take up police time too.
Chief Superintendent Hussain revealed: “The figures in the report show that it remains clear that with society spending more and more time in the digital space, particularly through the pandemic, policing online is becoming a bigger challenge for frontline police officers than ever before.
“There is also the ever-present threat of children being abused online and the harm associated with the sharing of indecent images.
“As a consequence, our efforts to keeping people safe on their computers, tablets and smartphones wherever they are in the country have redoubled and we continuing to invest in people and equipment as part of our Policing in a Digital World programme.
“The effects of the pandemic will continue to be felt for some time and we will now face new challenges, such as the current cost of living crisis, that will undoubtedly be reflected in recorded crimes going forward.”
The 2022-23 Q1 Performance Report will be presented at the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee on Tuesday, October 11.
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