The number of serious and minor assaults, public disorder offences, thefts and housebreakings, as well as deaths on the region’s roads, has dropped and there were 150 less victims of violent crime than in 2012-13.

The revelation emerged this week as Police Scotland released crime statistics at the end of its first year as a single force.

Now the county’s top cop has praised his officers for their hard work and vowed they will do all they can to ensure crime drops even further this year and in the future.

And, as part of the bid to wipe out as much crime as possible, Chief Superintendent Alan Speirs told The Gazette he and his officers would be ramping up a crackdown on the area’s drug dealers.

The focus on those involved in the trade of illicit substances comes following consultations between police and Renfrewshire residents about crime concerns.

Speaking from his desk at Paisley’s Mill Street Police Office, the chief also revealed his goal as Renfrewshire’s Local Police Commander was to see a “continuous improvement” in how safe he and his officers were keeping residents and their streets.

And the officer aims to make Renfrewshire play host to “the safest communities in Scotland”.

He said: “We are a year into Police Scotland and it’s been a good year in Renfrewshire – there have been some sizable reductions in crime.

“Last year was a particularly good year for us as a division, across Renfrewshire, and to actually build on it in year one of Police Scotland is really positive.” But the top cop is not about to live off the success of the last 12 months and stressed that he and his officers were going to keep working as hard as ever to tackle crime.

He said: “We’re not going to be complacent but there is 150 less victims of violence across Renfrewshire, which is significantly reduced from last year.

“We’ve seen a small reduction in the number of incidents and the number of crimes, but from a policing perspective there has been a fairly significant increase in arrests.” More than 80 per cent of those responsible for domestic offences abuse have been lifted and Speirs believes the force’s recent track record with assaults in the home should encourage as-yet silent victims to speak up.

He said: “Individuals who are victims of domestic violence should have the confidence that they can come forward and report that crime to us and we will do all we can to detect it.

“The same can be said for victims in relation to sexual crimes. There is a lot of positive work being done.” Road deaths and casualties have dropped by a third and, as the second year of Police Scotland gets under way, Speirs revealed what his officers will look to stamp out in the next 12 months.

He explained: “We need to look at what our priorities will be in year two.

“There are four or five main things we will look to target this year: violence, vulnerable children and adults and victims of domestic and sexual crimes.

“But the overwhelming concern that has come from the local communities is about drug activity.

“So, as part of our priority this year, we will be looking to tackle those involved in the sale and supply of drugs.” The crackdown comes on the back of an increased drug crime incentive last year, which saw a 20 per cent rise in police activity around the local drug trade.

Speirs pledged: “We will continue to build on that in the course of this year.”