Police chiefs have hailed new crime figures which prove the north-east continues to be one of the safest places to live in Scotland.
Theft, antisocial behaviour and road traffic offences all fell from the previous reporting period, some by more than a third.
The statistics are from Police Scotland’s quarterly performance report, and cover the 12 months from April 2014 to March this year.
Housebreakings are down by 38.5%, motor vehicle crime dropped by 34% and common thefts are down by a quarter.
Last night divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Mark McLaren, said: “Overall I am pleased with the performance of our division over the year. Each area’s inspector and their teams work hard to listen to residents’ concerns and to work to reduce issues in their areas.
“Aberdeenshire is one of the safest places to live in Scotland and working with our partners and the community we want it to stay that way.”
Officers have also successfully cracked down on antisocial behaviour and disorder across the region, with 247 fewer acts of vandalism and 382 fewer complaints of disturbances.
However, the positive outlook was marred by a rise in serious assaults from 45 cases in 2013-14 to 73 in 2014-15.
Chief Superintendent McLaren continued: “There has been a disappointing increase in serious assaults, although overall violence is remains down on previous years. A number of these incidents are fuelled by alcohol and those involved are known to each other.
“We will continue to take measures to reduce violence as part of our activities on a daily basis. By effectively policing our towns and villages we want to provide communities with the reassurance that they can enjoy a night out in their local area safely.
“There is no doubt however that alcohol plays a part in many of the assaults we deal with and so our advice is to drink sensibly and behave responsibly.”
He added that Police Scotland regularly visited pubs and clubs in the north-east alongside licensing standards officers from the council to deter “alcohol fuelled violence”.