RECORDED crime rates in Argyll and Bute have plummeted – but incidents of sexual crimes have risen sharply.

In the latest crime statistics, from the Scottish Government, total recorded crime in Argyll and Bute area is down five per cent on last year.

That’s better than the national figure of four per cent and equates to a fall of more than 136 crimes – from 2,768 in 2014/15 to 2,632 in 2015/16.

And since 2006/07 total crime in the Argyll and Bute area has, in fact, halved by a massive 50 per cent.

However, sexual crimes, including rape and attempted rape, are up 29 per cent on last year’s figures, while sexual assaults have jumped up 45 per cent.

Helensburgh councillor Vivien Dance, who is also chairperson of the Helensburgh and Lomond Crime Prevention Panel, welcomed the overall drop in crime but said the rise in sexual crimes was “disturbing”.

She told The Advertiser: “It is reassuring to see the downward trend in crime for Argyll and Bute just reinforcing what many of us know from living here, that we are, in fact, fortunate to live in an area which has low levels of crime – despite what headlines would seem to suggest all too often.

“The increase in sexual assaults is disturbing, of course, but this may be now that more people are reporting such crimes as they feel more comfortable in coming forward knowing that we have a different and more sensitive approach to such reporting now to what we did many years ago.

“We need to sustain low levels of crime in our area and continue to press the message with younger people of the devastating effects on families and loved ones of crime and violence and continue to reassure communities that maintaining low levels of crime is a Police Scotland priority to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors.”

Fellow Helensburgh Councillor James Robb said no-one in the area will get complacent about the drop in crime rates.

He said: “There can never be complacency about safeguarding communities but it is reassuring that the trend under the current Scottish Government is a decrease in crime.”

The report also states that attempted murder and serious assaults are up 67 per cent in Argyll and Bute, from 24 to 40 victims.

Councillor Robb added: “People do get alarmed when serious incidents happen in our community but these are rare and the local police are quick to address the issues they raise.”

A spokesperson for Victim Support Scotland said: “Any increase in violent crime statistics is worrying.”

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “The overall recorded crime picture remains largely positive with a four per cent fall in overall recorded crime across our communities.

“This coupled with an increase in the detection rate of 1.2 per cent reflects the hard work carried out by police officers and police staff throughout the country.

“The report also highlights the large demand on Police Scotland with 246,243 crimes recorded during 2015-16.

“The increase in the report of sexual crime is in part a reflection of the increased level of confidence the public has in reporting this type of crime to the police with the knowledge that every complaint will be handled sensitively and professionally.

“This equally applies to reports of historical abuse.

“Police Scotland will continue to engage with the public to identify issues in local communities across Scotland that will direct and inform the shape of policing for the future.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson said: “While higher levels of recorded sexual crime are broadly in line with UK trends, the figures include a significant number of historical cases and may reflect greater willingness by victims to come forward, such incidents are completely unacceptable.

“This is why we have taken tough action to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”