AN INCREASE in shoplifting, and speeding detected on Clacks roads more than doubling, will be among figures presented to Kilncraigs by police chiefs this week.

Police commanders will be at Clackmannanshire Council's Audit and Scrutiny Committee this Thursday, April 18, to provide an update on activity between April and September 2023.

Provisional statistics for the quarter show that theft by shoplifting increased by 61.4 per cent, compared to the same time period in 2022, to 213 cases recorded with the three-year average up by 118.8 per cent.

In the same time period, the number of speeding vehicles detected more than doubled to 55 with the three-year average up by 46 per cent.

A report from police chiefs to councillors will highlight how the force carried out 81 hours of speed checks at several locations in this period, paying particular attention to priority roads such as the A91.

Crimes of violence remained largely the same, however, going from 54 to 58.

There were no murders, attempted murders or culpable homicides while serious assaults and robberies decreased, continuing a downward trend.

The number of common assaults rose slightly to 303, a 6,7 per cent increase and there was a 7.2 per cent decrease in the number of complaints regarding disorder.

Included in crimes of violence is the emerging threat of so-called sextortion scams, which sees suspects contacting victims online to engage in sexual conversation and to encourage victims to send a sexual image or video which is in turn used to extort money out of victims.

In their report, police chiefs say crimes of extortion have accounted for the increase in violent, or group 1, crimes and a campaign has been ongoing in the Forth Valley Division to raise awareness.

Tackling the possession and supply of controlled substances remains a priority for police in Clackmannanshire, elected members will hear.

The number of detections for supply of drugs remained the same compared to the same period in 2022 at 16.

For instance, an intelligence-led plain-clothes operation took place in April 2023 following complaints about drug dealing in Tullibody and on one deployment officers detained two men and their vehicles, seizing £390 worth of ecstasy tablets, 33 grams of crack cocaine, a quantity of tablets and £830 in cash.

There was an increase in the number of detections for drugs production, manufacture or cultivation, which went from one to three.

In July 2023, a large-scale cannabis cultivation was uncovered at an Alloa residential property.

A total of 300 mature plans, valued at £180,000 was seized and an investigation is ongoing with potential links to serious and organised crime.

In the quarter, a total of 15 drugs search warrants were executed, seizing £217,545 worth of substances including ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, benzidine and pregabalin along with £11,682.70 in cash seized.

Measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, to reduce harm, to achieve early interventions and much more will also be presented to councillors on the day.