Gangs stripped of £33m under Proceeds of Crime law

POLICE and prosecutors have stripped Scottish gangs of almost £33 million since Proceeds of Crime legislation was introduced, new figures have revealed.

The laws enable them to go after money and assets gained through drug smuggling and prostitution.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "Not only will we prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law, using this legislation we will also seek to confiscate any proceeds from their activities and lifestyles so that they can be put to good use in communities."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The act has been a tremendous success. We are always looking to further tighten the screw on the gangsters and that is why last month we unveiled plans to strengthen the act further to allow law enforcement agencies to recover even more gangsters' profits."

An spokesman for senior police officers' body Acpos added: "We use the act to hit criminals where it hurts, seizing material or financial benefits gained through the commission of crime."