Jackie Baillie has reacted to the ‘shocking’ latest crime figures which show that violent and sexual crimes have risen in both West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.

In West Dunbartonshire, non-sexual crimes of violence have risen by 31 percent while in Argyll and Bute, they increased by 21 percent in the last year alone.

Sexual crimes have also increased by 25 percent in Argyll and Bute and 21 percent in West Dunbartonshire respectively since 2018.

Fraud has also increased excessively by 149 percent in West Dunbartonshire over the same period.

Dumbarton constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie said: “It is shocking to see the number of violent and sexual crimes soaring once again with local figures in Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire at higher levels than the Scottish average.

“It beggars belief that the SNP government would try and pretend these figures are anything other than a national scandal. Their claim that people feel safer in their communities is in sharp contrast to the figures in my constituency.

“They have already cut police numbers, making the job harder, and their plans to cut justice budgets even further risk making this grim picture even worse.

“The SNP need to invest in the police and get a grip on spiralling rates of serious crimes so our communities can truly feel safer.”