A female officer has been stabbed while investigating a break-in.

A police chief described the attack in North Ayrshire as “despicable” – and said inquiries are ongoing to trace the person responsible.

The force’s union said the officer sustained a “significant injury” and that her colleagues will “rally round her” following the “traumatic incident”.

The serious assault happened while three officers were investigating a report of a break-in at a property in Arthur Street, Stevenston, during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The 30-year-old female officer was taken to hospital in Glasgow for treatment, where she remains in a stable condition.

Chief Superintendent Raymond Higgins, divisional commander for Ayrshire, said: “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.

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

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers, said the incident showed the “unpredictable nature of policing”.

David Threadgold, chair of the SPF, told Sky News: “It shows just how committed police officers in Scotland are to serving their communities.

“This officer has sustained a significant injury. Her colleagues will rally round her, the police family will support her through this time and support her colleagues.

“My colleagues within the federation have been in contact and we are offering every support that we can through this difficult time because it is a very traumatic incident.

“We have to be there to support our own when these things happen.”

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Mr Threadgold said it was not yet known if the officer was carrying a Taser at the time of the attack.

He explained that it was a “dynamic incident that happened very quickly” so the officer may not have had a chance to deploy a Taser if she was carrying one.

He highlighted that the police service in Scotland is under severe pressure with falling officer numbers amid a recruitment block and training freeze over winter.

Mr Threadgold said: “We are very vulnerable in the job that we do at times.

“We need that continued support from the communities to help us to try and deliver policing – to give us the intelligence and information that allow us to direct our patrols.

“Our colleagues across the communities of Scotland are doing this against a backdrop of reducing numbers and increased demand.”

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