SEX crime continues to rise in Renfrewshire – with 335 incidents reported in a nine-month period. 

The figure, which covers the period from April to December last year, is an increase of 82 reports in the area compared against the corresponding period in 2017. 

More than 40 per cent of reported sexual offences from the time period in 2018 are non-recent in nature, while 87 per cent took place outdoors. 

READ MORE: Sex crimes in Renfrewshire almost double as victims come forward

The highest proportion of crimes were attacks on victims between the ages of 11 and 15 (31 per cent), with 64 per cent of those reports being non-recent and 10 per cent cyber-enabled. 

The detection rate for sexual crime stands at just under 70 per cent in 2018 – an increase of 28 per cent from the same period in 2017. 

During April to November of last year 452 crimes were recorded in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area – which was a rise of 90 reports from the same period in 2017. 

In January, Chief Inspector Simon Wright, who is based at Paisley police station at Mill Street, attributed a rise in reported sex crime to an increase public confidence. 

He said: “It’s quite a significant increase.

“We want to scrutinise and try to understand why that is.

“The trend is upwards and will continue to be upwards because of a lot of non-recent crime reporting.”

READ MORE: Rise in sex crimes down to more victims coming forward, say Renfrewshire police

“Certainly the police service in Scotland has been far better with victims. We have better catered for victims in these circumstances.

“Because of high profile media campaigns, people are more likely to come forward on the basis of successful conviction of people who committed offences decades ago.”

The latest figures are set to be presented at Tuesday’s Police and Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

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