New unit may go after crime barons

Published on 19/03/2009 21:02

MINISTERS are considering the introduction of special crime-lord prosecutors to target the assets of criminal bosses, it emerged yesterday.

Scottish Government officials are due to visit Ireland next month to see whether the system there of dedicated prosecutors for crime overlords could be introduced in Scotland.

Alex Salmond told MSPs that the Scottish Government would "consider the Irish experience" when drawing up tougher rules for tackling criminal bosses.

The First Minister said the existing law was working well, with millions taken from crime barons, but he said that, if there were ways of tightening the law still further, ministers would look to make the appropriate changes.

The issue was raised at First Minister's Questions by the Conservative MSP Bill Aitken, who asked Mr Salmond whether he would act on the review of asset recovery when it was completed.

Mr Salmond said a consultation would begin soon, asking for responses to the idea of widening the scope of the law by adding new "criminal lifestyle offences". One of these, he said, would be illegal money-lending, and whether loan sharks could be subject to asset recovery by the state in the future.

Mr Aitken then asked if Mr Salmond would look at the "Irish experience".

The First Minister replied: "Yes, I will consider, and the justice secretary will consider, the Irish experience in terms of adding to our weaponry in this matter. The Proceeds of Crime legislation has secured over 25 million in Scotland. We can improve it and we will improve it with the measures I have suggested and we will look at any further suggestions to improve it."

The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau was set up in1996 to seize the assets of organised crime, but its remit was widened in 2005 to include the proceeds of corruption. Special prosecutors have also been appointed to tackle purely organised crime.

Mr Aitken said: "Serious organised crime is a major problem.

We need to launch a fresh offensive against those who deal in death and human misery. We should copy what has happened elsewhere in the world."

Robert Brown, for the Liberal Democrats, said: "This is an interesting idea that deserves to be looked at in more detail."