AYRSHIRE has been hit by 9,196 crimes in just SIX months.

According to Police Scotland the Ayrshire are, which is covered by ‘U’ Division, revealed that 9,001 crimes were recorded in the same period last year.

This represents a 2.2 per cent increase in total crime recorded in the first six months of this financial year compared to last 2013/2014.

Significant reductions have been made across a number of areas, however, including personal violence, anti-social behaviour, dangerous driving offences and house-breaking.

Chief Superintendent Gillian MacDonald (pictured bottom right), Divisional Commander of ‘U’ Division, said: “These latest figures are encouraging and reflect the commitment of police officers and staff to reducing crime and victimisation across Ayrshire. Our priority is keeping people safe and reducing the number of people becoming victims of crime.

“We also continue to tackle those issues that cause people in communities across Ayrshire most concern” “We listened to residents ahead of publishing our local policing plans in North, East and South Ayrshire and people told us that the top-three priorities that they want us to tackle are; drug dealing and misuse, road safety, violence and antisocial behaviour.

“I believe we are doing a good job of tackling what matters most to the people of Ayrshire and we will continue to focus on these issues.” Our detection rates for all categories of violent and sexual crime is extremely strong and we will continue to ensure that where violent crime occurs we will pursue every opportunity to arrest those responsible.

“We are committed to keeping people safe across all of Ayrshire. We’ve already achieved some great results and I am confident that with the support of local communities we will continue to build on this in the coming months.”