A huge surge in serious crimes in Kirkcaldy is down to the way offences are recorded, a leading police officer has claimed.
Inspector Graeme Neill told town councillors that people were also more confident to report domestic abuse or sex crimes.
It follows the release of new figures that showed the number of common assaults rose from 396 between April 2014 to November 2014, to 745 for the same period last year.
The number of sexual crimes jumped by almost 50%, up from 88 in 2014 to 129 last year.
However, Mr Neill said the substantial rises could be attributed to new recording systems put in place in the past year.
“We have a dedicated domestic abuse task force,” he told councillors.
“They are doing proactive work in the community and people are coming forward.
“The other reason is how crime is recorded.
“Following a review it means that some matters that previously were not deemed to be a crime are now shown to be a crime.
“This has all happened in the last 12 months and why I would say there has been a big change in the figures.”
Despite the apparent rise in crime in some areas, there was some good news.
The number of thefts by housebreaking dropped last year to 93, 40 fewer than in 2014, while shoplifting offences were also down by 103.
Inspector Neill also said that plans to open a “Police Pod” at the town’s Asda supermarket were underway.
The small area would allow members of the public to speak to officers on site.