POLICE have confirmed that a female officer was seriously assaulted in Stevenston in the early hours of this morning.

The incident happened while the officer was on duty, responding to a reported break-in at a property on the town's Arthur Street on Wednesday, October 18.

Two other officers were at the scene alongside the 30-year-old woman who was the victim of this attack as she carried out enquiries.

Police officers have remained at the scene of the incident, which was first reported shortly after 2am, and were pictured wearing protective clothing in the area.

Other eyewitnesses have stated that officers were later combing the area around Arthur Street, and lifting drains, suggesting they were searching for something.

READ MORE: Woman taken to Glasgow hospital after Stevenston break-in

Following the attack, the officer was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment. Her condition has now been described as stable.

Following the incident, Ayrshire police's top officer has come forward to condemn the "despicable attack" on an officer which he says is "not acceptable and will not be tolerated".

Chief Superintendent Raymond Higgins, divisional commander for Ayrshire, said: “In the early hours of Wednesday, 18 October, 2023, three officers attended a report of a break-in at a property on Arthur Street, Stevenston.

“While carrying out enquiries a 30-year-old female officer was seriously assaulted and was taken to hospital in Glasgow for treatment, where she remains in a stable condition.

“This was a despicable attack on an on-duty officer and our enquiries are ongoing to trace the person responsible.

“Assault is not simply part of the job for police officers, it’s not acceptable and it will not be tolerated.

"This officer was carrying out her role, serving local communities and protecting the public, when the incident happened.”