The number of people caught carrying weapons in North Ayrshire has more than doubled since last year.

The total number of crimes involving carrying an offensive or bladed weapons recorded in the first three months of 2018 has jumped to 193 from 78 instances in the same period last year.

This data was extracted from Police Scotland’s Management Information Council Area Report, which covers the beginning of the year to March 31.

Overall the total number of crimes recorded in 2018 was 5,958 – with a slight decrease from 6,076 during the same period in 2017.

Violent crime has risen to 185 from 175, while sexual crimes recorded have risen from 220 to 247 this year.

Crimes of dishonesty – covering housebreaking, theft and fraud – has risen to 2,897 from 2,779, while recorded crimes of fire-raising, malicious mischief etc has went down to 1,267 from 1,570.

Other crimes recorded – which covering drug distribution/possession and carrying weapons – rose slightly from 1,332 to 1,362.

Domestic abuse incidents recorded have fallen to1,584 from 1,672 in the same period the previous year, with 49.8 per cent incidents resulting in a crime report.

There have been three attempted murders recorded in North Ayrshire so far this year, up from one in the same period in 2017, while there have been no recorded murders in 2018.

Serious assaults have risen to 104 incidents recorded from 88 last year.

Recorded incidents of people possessing or distributing indecent images of children rose to 10 from three in the first three months of 2017.

Prostitution related crime in North Ayrshire increased by 100 per cent – going to one from 0 in the same period last year.

The report contains the most up to date recorded crime data available at the start of April 2018.