Shock new figures have revealed serious crime in the Highlands has soared by almost 17%.
And a rise in the number of sex offences and domestic abuse cases was a major factor in the increase.
But police chiefs and a leading women’s refuge believe victims being more prepared to report incidents and a 26.9% rise in the detection rate for all serious crime have contributed to the spike.
There were 832 serious crimes between April and June this year, compared with 691 for the same quarter in 2014 – a 16.9% increase.
The force classifies “serious” crime as violent and sexual offences including domestic abuse, crimes of dishonesty, and fire-raising and malicious mischief.
The figures are contained in a report from north Highland area commander Iain MacLelland in an update on the 2014-2017 policing plan.
to a Highland Council committee which meets next Wednesday.
Chief Inspector MacLelland said: “We have been working hard to increase reporting of domestic abuse and sexual crime incidents over the past few years.
“Positive multi-agency working has, without doubt, increased confidence in reporting as victims feel more able to report recent incidents as well as historical ones.”
He said a domestic abuse questionnaire completed by victims had prompted further investigations and an increase in the number of crimes reported.
He added: “Through early intervention, we have been working to reduce repeat victimisation and perpetration.”
Between April and June this year, there were 307 domestic abuse incidents in Highland, which was up from 166 in the same quarter in 2014.
The police recorded 46 “sexual crimes” for the three-month spell in 2014 and 86 for the same period this year.
Ross-shire Women’s Aid, which provides help for victims of domestic abuse, currently has almost 500 women on its books compared with 100 five years ago.
The group, which was established 35 years ago, has played a key role in piloting innovative ideas to deal with the aftermath of domestic abuse, including a confidential questionnaire for victims which has been rolled out by police nationally.
That idea stemmed from police reviews carried out in the wake of several murders south of the border in which women and children died at the hands of ex-partners.
Ross-shire Women’s Aid spokeswoman Heather Williams described the scale of the increase as concerning.
She said: “With the advent of Police Scotland, the way the force – and Scotland – deal with abuse crimes has changed.
“The completion of a questionnaire aims to get beyond the actual incident and obtain a fuller picture of what’s happening in people’s lives when police are called out.
“As a result, there’s been a high increase in people answering ‘yes’ to the specific question ‘Has anything of a sexual nature happened?’ – which is why we’re seeing the increase.
“Rather than people having to contact us, we now make contact with them and say the service is here.”