Crooks hanging on to ill-gotten gains
Government says recovering crime proceeds takes time
CRIMINALS have been accused of flouting proceeds of crime laws to keep their dirty profits.
Figures reveal crooks were ordered to hand over almost £1.6million of criminal proceeds in the first three months of 2021 – but only paid £74,000.
Confiscation orders are supposed to recover dirty profits from drug dealing, people trafficking, cybercrime and other lucrative criminality.
The orders total for the first quarter of 2021-22 was £1,579,000 but only £74,000 has been paid, according to Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
The Tories described the stats as a “scandalous betrayal of every drug-scarred community across Scotland” and evidence that “crime now pays” under the SNP.
MSP Russell Findlay, the Conservatives’ community safety spokesman, said: “Wealthy crooks clearly have nothing to fear from proceeds of crime laws.
“When proceeds of crime laws were introduced at the turn of the millennium, we were told they would bankrupt those at the pinnacle of organised crime. They have failed.
“If the SNP Government was genuinely serious about tackling these gangs, they would give our police, prosecutors and courts the resources they need to do their jobs.”
The Scottish Government said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act remains an extremely powerful and effective tool in the fight against organised crime.
“Where a confiscation order has been made by the court following conviction, the collection process is directed by the court process. However, due to the size of the sums involved this can take time. Where payment is not made within the time allowed the case may be brought back before the court at which time any further enforcement procedure to recover the outstanding balance will be considered.
“This may include the appointment of an administrator to assist in the ingathering and management of realisable property.”