Sex crimes involving indecent images double within a year

New figures released by Police Scotland's Argyll and West Dunbartonshire have recorded a 106% increase in the number of these crimes compared to this time last year.

The "considerable" hike has seen the number of recorded offences rise from 48 to 99 crimes in a twelve month period.

Senior officers say the majority of these crimes are being committed by strangers via online platforms.

In addition, a quarter of the recorded offences are believed to be have been committed by two repeat offenders and that these preparators have been detected.

In their evaluation, officers say they are targeting young people in order prevent online sexual harm and misogynistic behaviours through education.

Their report from the policing service is due to be considered by West Dunbartonshire Council's Housing and Communities committee.

It reads: "In terms of online offences, we continue to work tirelessly to combat these as we recognise that although these crimes do not involve physical contact, they can have a very serious and lasting negative impact on the victim.

"Our Youth Engagement Officers (YEOs) are delivering inputs on misogynistic behaviours, online sexual harms and domestic violence with the intention of preventing the youths becoming the future perpetrators of such criminality.

"Additionally, our YEOs are speaking with children who have, or are, witnessing domestic violence and intervening to prevent those behaviours becoming normalised."

In addition to this work, the force says they are involved in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) partnership and will continue to highlight the seriousness of domestic violence.

Other sexual crimes that have been listed in the report as having decreased.

Sexual assaults and rape crimes have seen a combined reduction of seven per cent. More than half of sexual assaults reported have been classed as 'non-recent' reports.