Angela Constance

The report by Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce (SOCT) updates on the success of the Banking Protocol since its launch in 2018. Under the scheme, staff in banks and other financial institutions are trained to spot and help prevent customers being scammed.

The Taskforce Progress Report also details the other ways that criminal gangs have been disrupted from causing harm to individuals, communities and businesses across Scotland.

This includes targeted action on those supplying illegal drugs, including through ‘county lines’, and action on environmental waste crime such as fly-tipping.

The report highlights the success of the CashBack for Communities scheme, where seized criminal assets are used to fund programmes established to divert young people away from involvement in antisocial behaviour and crime.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chairs the SOCT, said: “Tackling and disrupting serious organised crime and diverting people away from being drawn into criminal gangs is a priority for the Scottish Government and the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.

“This progress report offers an insight into the breadth of activity overseen by the Taskforce and its supporting partners to tackle serious organised crime and it highlights the successes they are having.

“I welcome the on-going success of the Banking Protocol, which has prevented customers, who are often older or vulnerable people, from having a total of around £29 million fraudulently taken from their accounts.

“I am grateful to our partners across the public, private and third sectors who have contributed to the work of the SOCT and I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to eradicate serious organised crime in Scotland.”