Organised crime ‘out of control’, Russell Findlay tells John Swinney

Organised crime is “out of control” in Scotland, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has claimed.

Raising the matter during First Minister’s Questions, Findlay said there had been a “sickening outbreak of gangland violence” in recent weeks and called for more action to tackle it.

First Minister John Swinney said organised crime was “intolerable and unacceptable” but insisted his government and the justice system “have been successful” in tackling it.

But he also agreed to consider any proposals to strengthen areas of law which would help further reduce the problem.

Two Scots with known connections to gangland crime were murdered in a bar in Spain over the weekend.

Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.

Police have since said there was “nothing to suggest” the killings were “planned from within Scotland”.

But it follows serious concerns about the recent escalation of gang-related violence in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Findlay said Scots were witnessing a “turf war in Scotland’s streets”. He asked: “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 did not agree that parliament had failed to get to grips with the problem, pointing to high numbers of people associated with organised crime currently incarcerated.

He also praised the work of the Scottish crime campus as “one of the most innovative and successful measures” in responding to the issue.

The Tory leader accused the Swinney of showing “dangerous complacency”.

He called for a “rethink” of the guidelines on sentencing under 25s, suggesting organised crime groups were preying on young people due to “reduced risk”, and also suggested there needed to be an “urgent and radical overhaul” of proceeds of crime legislation.

Swinney hit back at Findlay on the sentencing guidelines, saying: “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. There are very serious consequences, which involve imprisonment.

“We cannot have messages being issued from this parliament which indicate that there are no consequences for serious criminal activity.”

On proceeds of crime, he said he was “perfectly willing to consider” any proposals on strengthening the law.

Later in FMQs, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar challenged the first minister on the potential downgrading of the neonatal unit at Wishaw Hospital.

Swinney said the proposals were the “product of advice from an expert group” meaning that, while the “vast majority” of babies would continue to be cared for at local units, some more specialist care could be better provided elsewhere.