The number of sexual crimes taking place in North Ayrshire fell at the end of last year.
There was an overall decrease in the number of sexual crimes reported to the end of the final quarter of 2022, down 6.8 per cent on the previous year but still up 1.6 per cent on the five-year average.
The biggest reduction was seen in sexual assault crimes (down 23.7 per cent on last year) the North Ayrshire police and fire and rescue committee heard last Monday.