New statistics from Police Scotland have revealed that 14,233 crimes were recorded in Fife last year, a 6% increase on 2016/17.
Nationally, the number of recorded crimes increased by 3%, but elsewhere in Mid-Scotland and Fife crime was down in Perth and Kinross and Stirling, and up in Clackmannanshire.
Murdo Fraser believes that a decrease in the number of police officers in Fife is contributing towards increasing crime.
Nearly 40 crimes were reported every day in Fife last year, the fourth highest in Scotland behind only Edinburgh, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The fact that crime is on the up in Fife will surprise few people in the area who have dealt with blow after blow to local policing.
“Not only has there been a failure to recruit special constables, there are now 42 fewer officers on the beat compared with 2013 and police public counters have either been closed or rationalised. The net effect of these cuts has resulted in the public losing faith in the service.
“Everyone wants to feel safe in their home or community and it is disappointing to note that Fife had the fourth highest number of crimes recorded in the country.
“The police are being pushed to the very limit of their operational capacity and it is high time that the Scottish Government properly supported our police officers on the beat.”