Justice Secretary speaks out on Glasgow’s gangland feud
GANGLAND feuding on the streets of Glasgow resulting in murders and attempted murders is unacceptable, the Justice Secretary has said.
Michael Matheson responded to the report on Serious and Organised Crime, which stated that gangs posed an increasing threat, had access to guns and were prepared to use them in public.
Mr Matheson said the information was not new to the police as they supplied it but that the recent spate of attacks in Glasgow was not acceptable.
He said: “There is a small number of organised crime groups undertaking a feud resulting in serious gang violence, particularly in the Glasgow area which is wholly unacceptable.”
He said Police Scotland was taking action to reduce violence in public places.
Last week, David Scott, 33, was jailed for the murder of Euan Johnston as he sat in his car at traffic lights in Scotland Street near Shields Roads Subway station in 2016.
Last month, Kenny Reilly, 29, a friend of Euan Johnstone, was shot in the head in the passenger seat of a BMW car in Bilsland Drive near Mayhill Road. He later died.
In another incident a car was rammed in Atlas Street, Springburn, which the police said was being treated as attempted murder.
Earlier this week, the Evening Times reported on the publication of the National Crime Agency into criminal gangs.
It said there were 164 known organised crime groups in Scotland with more than 3,000 people involved.
It said the number of groups was falling but the threat they posed was increasing, particularly relating to feud and firearms incidents.
Conservative MSP Liam Kerr told the minister the public thinks it is not good enough to have gun attacks taking place on the streets.
He asked: “What is he going to do to get the guns off our streets?”
Mr Matheson said the Tory MSP “fundamentally misunderstood” how these matters are dealt with.
He said police and other law agencies are involved in diversion and disruption initiatives through coordinated activities.
He said that the information i n the report was supplied by Police Scotland and was not new information coming to its attention.
He added: “Feuds spilling onto the streets is unacceptable and Police Scotland is taking action.”