ALMOST 1,400 people have responded to the Ayrshire Division’s public consultation on police matters.

Launched earlier this year, Your View Counts has revealed the five issues causing most concern in our communities.

They are — anti-social behaviour/disorder; drug dealing/drug misuse; homes being broken into; violent crime; and child abuse including sexual exploitation.

Chief Superintendent Paul Main, local policing commander for Ayrshire, said: “The latest views indicate that anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing and housebreaking are amongst the crimes and issues that matter to you most.

“They impact on individuals, families and communities.

“Your views are important to us and together with crime figures and other data, we use this information to help shape our local policing plans."

He added: “We are working with our partners to tackle these very issues that concern the public most with dedicated high-visibility patrols and specialist teams to tackle specific crimes such as drug-dealing.

“We will continue to work together, listening to residents and partners, and respond effectively to reduce crime in our communities and to keep those people who live, work and visit Ayrshire, safe.”

While the Your View Counts survey provides the opportunity for communities to tell us what is important to them locally on an ongoing basis, the recent launch of Policing 2026 strategy encourages people to participate in the force’s longer term plan for policing.

This will address the crimes that concern people most.

It will also deal with the 80 per cent of calls the public contact police for which relate to harm, safety and vulnerability.