GLASGOW City Centre’s top cop has insisted violent crime is not on the increase despite a number of police appeals for serious assaults in recent weeks.

Chief Inspector Audrey Hand, who runs the city centre area command from Stewart Street Police Office, said that figures actually show violent crime is down on the same time last year. She added that she is also currently reviewing the current city centre policing plan.

Her comments come after her officers launched another investigation into a stabbing on Sauchiehall Street.

An innocent bystander, 39, was stabbed in the leg on Sunday morning after a large-scale fight outside a takeaway shop.

Police said a group of four men and two women were outside the takeaway shop when they were approached by a group of seven men at around 1.15am.

An argument broke-out which led to the large-scale fight. Several people were assaulted but cops did not receive a report of the fight - and both groups made off.

Detective Constable Mark Paterson said: “A man who had nothing to do with this incident has ended up being stabbed in the leg. It’s possible people thought the incident wasn’t so serious, but an innocent bystander has been attacked by someone intent on causing harm, even though he had nothing to do with either group or the trouble that flared up between them.”

Chief Inspector Hand, however, said appeals have to been made to catch the people responsible.

She said: “The incidents we appealed for recently took place between March this year and last Sunday and, whilst in no way trying to minimise what has happened, we have to appeal to the public for information to assist us to detect the people responsible.

“While the perception may be that violent crime is on the increase, thanks to the diligence and hard work of local officers, our figures show that it is actually down on the same time last year. In 2016/2017 (April to September) we had 74 serious assaults in the city compared to 65 this year and our detection rates have increased from 60.8% to 66.2 %. There are a number of investigations ongoing into the incidents which may not have yet resulted in an arrest, hence the reason we need to make those appeals.”

The latest assault comes after a 21-year-old was stabbed in Kushion nightclub on Bath Street on Friday morning. A 42-year-old was also discovered unconscious in Cadogan Street at West Campbell Street on Sunday night. He was attacked by another man following an argument.

We released CCTV images of two men police wish to speak to yesterday after a man was left with head injuries following an assault in Sauchiehall Lane on August 25.

The force is also currently investigating a sex attack in West Regent Lane which happened last week.

Chief Inspector Hand said: “We are carrying out a review of our current city centre policing plan and will continue to work with our partners, including Glasgow City Council, the NHS, street pastors and Glasgow Taxis, to complement and further enhance the work that is already being done and to reassure the hundreds of thousands of people who live, work and socialise in the city.”