Use organised crime cash to fight crime, watchdog says

Money raised from seized criminal assets should be directly reinvested in efforts to fight organised crime, a police watchdog has said.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), Craig Naylor, called for the change following a wave of gangland disorder.

He praised Police Scotland’s response, and said the centralisation of the force had helped to tackle organised crime.

However, Mr Naylor said further action was needed at a time of “increasing demand” on officers.

In an annual report, HMICS said the Scottish government should consider an “asset recovery incentivisation scheme” that would allow Police Scotland – and other agencies – to use money raised from criminals’ assets to combat crime.

A similar scheme is already in operation across the rest of the UK.

Mr Naylor’s report found that more than £10m was recovered in Scotland using Proceeds of Crime legislation in 2023-24.

While this money is not directly funnelled back to the police, it can be used for the government’s CashBack for Communities programme, which provides free activities and programmes for young people – including those at risk of offending or reoffending.

Mr Naylor said: “In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, Proceeds of Crime Act reporting agencies can and do receive money from the proceeds recovered from crime under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (Aris).

“The Home Office encourages agencies to invest Aris funds into areas that will increase asset recovery or, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities.

“This process is not applicable in Scotland.

“At a time of increasing demand, I would be encouraged to see conversations to consider if some funding could be released from seized assets to bolster the fight against organised crime – and maintain Scotland’s position as a top performer in this area.”

In other parts of the UK, criminal assets worth £243.3m were seized in 2023-24.

Of that total, £98.1m was distributed to agencies, including police forces, to fund crime fighting.

Efforts to tackle organised crime in Scotland have been ramped up in recent months following an outbreak of gangland activity.

Assaults, shootings and fire bombings across the central belt have so far led to more than 50 arrests.

The Scottish Prison Service said it was having to play “a daily game of chess” in its jails to keep violent rivals apart.

Police Scotland said it was open to discussion on changes to how proceeds of crime can be used.

A spokesperson said: “The process in place in other parts of the United Kingdom and further afield where seized assets and money is reinvested can be seen to have significant impact on the efforts to tackle serious and organised crime.”

Justice Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the report’s praise for Police Scotland, and the conclusion that the centralisation of the force had strengthened efforts to tackle organised crime.

She said money recovered through proceeds of crime legislation was primarily used to fund community projects “aimed at diverting young people away from crime”.

Constance added that since 2008 more than £156m of “ill-gotten gains” had been distributed through the CashBack for Communities scheme, supporting 1.4m young people.