PERVERTS have been warned they have no hiding place – after it was revealed the number of sex crimes is on the rise.

Latest figures released by the Scottish Government show there was a 25 per cent increase – from 85 to 106 – in offences across East Renfrewshire last year.

And it was a similar story in Renfrewshire, which saw a rise of 19 per cent, from 253 to 302.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said research suggests that an increase in ‘sexual cyber-crime’ is partly responsible for the worrying trend.

He added: “I remain focused on ensuring everyone feels safe in their community.

“That demands a relentless focus on where crimes persist, whether online or in public or domestic spaces, to identify where best to strengthen the collective efforts of policing, public services and communities themselves.

“The sexual crimes research makes clear that more work is required to understand why, particularly, young males are behaving in this way and to prevent sexual offending, building on the recent Education Summit held by the Solicitor General.”

Alison Di Rollo QC, Solicitor General, added: “Too many children and young people are coming into contact with our justice system as a result of sexual offending and we know that technology has an increasingly significant part to play.

“I convened the Education Summit to emphasise the need to protect our young people by educating them about their rights and responsibilities under the criminal law.”

Despite the rise in sex crimes in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, overall crime in both areas has dropped over the past year.

In Renfrewshire, the number of crimes recorded by the police fell by 14 per cent, from 11,840 to 10 089.

And the total for East Renfrewshire dropped by five per cent, from 2,217 to 2,108.

Across both regions crimes of dishonesty, fireraising and vandalism were among those which decreased from 2015/16 levels.