Holyrood has failed on organised crime, claims Findlay

The Scottish Parliament has failed to tackle organised crime, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives has claimed as a gang war rages across central Scotland.

Police have arrested 41 people in relation to the feud after a spate of shootings, firebombings and assaults, with the probe being dubbed Operation Portaledge.

Speaking during First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Russell Findlay said: “These parasites grow rich by preying on society’s most vulnerable.

“These cowards cause terror and death with guns, knives and fire bombs.

“These thugs go after journalists, politicians, businessmen, police and prison officers.

“Organised crime is out of control and communities are living in fear.

“Does John Swinney accept that the Scottish Parliament has failed to tackle organised crime in Scotland?”

The First Minister said he does not agree with that assertion, but added: “Organised crime is intolerable, it is unacceptable.

“It requires the forensic attention of our police and criminal justice authorities to tackle it, and that is being undertaken within Scotland on a relentless basis by Police Scotland and by the criminal justice authorities.

“I would expect the authorities to pursue that level of scrutiny and activity, and that is what is happening.

Mr Russell – a former journalist who wrote extensively about organised crime in the country – also pushed the First Minister on sentencing guidelines aimed at those under the age of 25.

The guidelines – which aim to shift the focus to rehabilitation of young offenders rather than punishment with jail time – are seen by some as a “soft-touch” approach which allows young people who commit crimes to go unpunished.

But the Government has repeatedly said the eight-page document can be overruled by judges who act independently of ministers.

Mr Findlay quoted a statement from Detective Superintendent Andy Patrick, who said in 2023 that the guidance was being exploited by criminal gangs who were “coercing young and vulnerable people to carry out some of these crimes because they’re under reduced risk of imprisonment”.

But the First Minister said: “Not for the first time, I cannot allow Mr Findlay’s remarks to stand about the under-25 sentencing guidelines.

“It is misleading to say to members of the public that there are no consequences for criminal activity under the age of 25, because there are very serious consequences, which involve imprisonment.”

Mr Findlay also pushed the First Minister to look again at legislation which can confiscate the proceeds of criminal activity, pointing to one drug dealer where authorities have only been able to find £118,000 of his £126 million fortune.

Mr Swinney said he is “open” to reviewing legislation to identify points where it could be “considered for strengthening”.