Superintendent Shaheen Baber apologised to South Ayrshire councillors for an administrative error in providing a draft report.
Councillors took senior police officers to task after an incomplete report was brought to a South Ayrshire Council committee.
The figures sparked a number of comments from councillors, including panel chair, Councillor Philip Saxton. Chief Inspector Kevin Lammie, Area Commander for South Ayrshire, added: “I believe you are referring to police visibility in Carrick, around Girvan and Maybole. It is very much a priority for communities to see officers. It is a quite a challenge as it is a considerable geographic area.Councillor Saxton suggested the additional recruitment didn’t take account of any officers leaving the force.
He also said that the reduction in drug supply charges was a negative and was a result of reduced proactivity by the police, something he said was ‘glossed over’ in the report.