Community councillors in Largs say not enough information on crime is being given to them by the police.

The group say figures supplied to them by officers attending their monthly meetings are inadequate because they do not include comparisons from previous periods.

At their recent meeting, councillors agreed to ask for talks with Largs police inspector Gordon Jones to outline their concerns.

Chairman Douglas Blair said: “We need comparisons to know whether the figures given to us are better or worse than last year. Are the figures good, bad, or just normal? It’s all about interpretation.” Secretary George Douglas, himself a retired high ranking police officer, said during his career he always ensured his officers attended community councils fully briefed with information.

And he added: “The situation here fails at the first hurdle. I think we should raise the matter with Inspector Jones.” The comments came after Largs police officers Thomas Arthur and Lyndsay Barr attended the meeting and indicated there had been 373 incidents in the Largs area during the past month.

They specifically mentioned eight acts of vandalism, one drug offence, 10 thefts, nine house break-ins, one car crime, four disturbances, 12 road traffic accidents, nine assaults and one fraud.

Community Councillor Patricia Perman pointed out: “That doesn’t add up to 373.” Constable Arthur said included in the 373 were incidents that did not need a crime report, such as some disturbances or people being asked to move on. He was asked for more information on the road traffic accidents, and whether the assaults included domestic violence, but he had no further information.

The officers were also asked about the opening times of Largs police station and they indicated this was 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

North Ayrshire Councillor Tom Marshall commented: “That’s better than Girvan where the police office has closed.” However, he said he wished to defend the police locally. He praised Inspector Jones, but added: “He should have the police community officer here regularly.” The community councillors said the fact that the station was not open at weekends was a disadvantage for people who were out of town at work all week. And, as a tourist town, there were more people in Largs at weekends during the summer.

The officers said people wanting to contact them when the office was shut could use the phone outside the station, and Constable Barr added: “We will come back to the office to deal with anything that’s urgent.” She was also asked what would happen if a driver who worked out of town was told by police to bring documents to the Largs station, only to find it was closed. She was asked “can you take your licence to any police office?” Constable Barr said it depended on the circumstances surrounding the reasons why the order had been issued.

Cllr Ian Murdoch pointed out that he had tried to report a security alarm sounding at business premises but the old Largs police number, which he rang, did not work. People should now ring 101.

The comments about insufficient information were made after the two constables left the meeting.

Inspector Jones told the “News” that he had regular meetings with community councillors and would welcome the opportunity to discuss their request for additional information.