Allegations of rape have shot up in Ayrshire by almost 40 per cent, new police figures show.
In 2020/21, police looked into 96 cases of alleged rape — that figure has risen to 133 in 2021/22.
It represents an increase of 38.5 per cent, although detection rates have improved too.
Ayrshire’s top cop, chief superintendent Faroque Hussain, said rape crime remained a “priority” for officers.
He said: “Targeting sexual crime is a priority for us and, like the national picture which has recorded an overall increase, Ayrshire has recorded 37 more incidents of rape.
“This shows a rise in public confidence in people coming forward to report it and I would encourage our communities to continue engaging with us to help shape local policing.
“They can do this in several ways, one of which is by participating in Your Police survey which helps us listen to the views of those we keep safe.”
The figures, contained in Police Scotland’s Quarter 4 Performance Report, covering April 2021 to March 2022, shows that Ayrshire recorded more than 180 fewer crimes of house-breaking and 55 fewer incidents involving the handling of bladed weapons.
And the report shows a drop in robberies and assault with intent to rob too, down from 108 to 90 against the same period last year.
There were 10 fewer homicides across the country — while Ayrshire alone recorded a drop of three.
The region also recorded around 30 fewer crimes involving the carrying of offensive weapons and a drop of 92 motor vehicle-related offences.
CS Hussain said: “Officers across Ayrshire have been focusing on the priorities that matter to our communities and this latest report underpins their hard work.
“Our bond with our communities is central to our legitimacy and we will continue to engage with them to influence local policing priorities.
“One of those priorities is the increase in fraud which remains a threat across the country.
“Ayrshire has experienced some cruel acts of vulnerable people being exploited by imposters disguising their wicked intent and this is why we are getting preventative messages out to our communities. The rise in fraud reaffirms that online policing is increasingly a key part of frontline policing.”
Police Scotland’s Performance Report will be presented at the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee on Tuesday, June 7.
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