:: INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOLS ::
SCDEA and Law Society of Scotland sign unique Information Sharing Protocol
Cameron Ritchie (President of the Law Society of Scotland) and DCC Gordon Meldrum (Director General, SCDEA)
The SCDEA and the Law Society of Scotland (the Society) have joined forces to tackle the use of lawyers and other professionals by serious organised crime groups.
The SCDEA and the Society have signed an information-sharing protocol to facilitate the exchange of information to improve intelligence on how serious organised crime operates in Scotland and their use of lawyers. The improved intelligence will be used to inform more effective disruption tactics and operational activity.
The overall aim of the protocol is the prevention and detection of crime, and identifying offenders for prosecution. Specifically, the new arrangements will be focused on sharing information on the actual or suspected involvement of the Society’s members and/or their clients in serious organised crime. It will also target solicitors who are at risk, or are suspected of being at risk of exposure to or involvement in criminal activity or who may be targeted by serious organised crime groups, as well as any solicitors who potentially represent a risk due to poor standards or poor professional conduct.
The agreement between the Society and the SCDEA, which will be formally reviewed after the first six months and thereafter on an annual basis, follows a similar ISP with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
As a result of serious organised crime group mapping, the SCDEA has identified 12 specialists who are the most connected with the top 20 per cent of serious organised crime groups. A number of these individuals are providing support to more than one serious organised crime group, acting as nexus points for a number of criminal networks. All of these individuals have been the subject of investigation and some form of action is now underway to disrupt their activities, including reports to the Crown and referrals to professional and regulatory bodies, including the Law Society of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Deputy Chief Constable Gordon Meldrum, Director General, SCDEA said: “We know that serious organised crime groups use the services of professional specialists, including lawyers, to support their criminal enterprises. Their role is crucial to the ongoing operation of criminal enterprises by providing the means necessary to launder money, acquire property and make other financial investments. Without this expert advice, crime groups would find it very difficult to operate.
“The vast majority of professionals are law abiding citizens, but there are a small number of unscrupulous lawyers, as well as professionals in other sectors, who are operating on behalf of organised crime. Some professionals may find themselves drawn into the criminal underworld through lack of awareness, or they may be subject to threats and blackmail by criminals. Ultimately, the price these professionals pay is steep. Their involvement can lead to reputational damage, loss of employment, a criminal record and even a custodial sentence.
“That’s why our new collaborative agreement with the Law Society of Scotland is so important. We need to know more about who is involved and the nature of their involvement so that we can take steps to disrupt criminal activity.
We also want to make sure that people working in the legal sector in Scotland are aware of the risks and help them make their businesses more resistant to the threat posed by serious organised crime. By working together in this way, we can disrupt the activities of serious organised crime, protect legitimate businesses and ultimately make Scotland safer.”
Cameron Ritchie, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “This is an important step for both organisations in ensuring the sharing of relevant information which will assist in the detection and disruption of organised crime in Scotland.
“It is absolutely vital for maintaining public trust and the reputation of the profession that we take the necessary action to ensure that our members adhere to the high regulatory and ethical standards expected of all Scottish solicitors.
“We have a robust regulatory regime, including financial compliance systems, and know that the vast majority of our members are completely honest in their business practices and work very hard on behalf of legitimate clients. However those who are unscrupulous, those who are coerced into criminal activity or those who inadvertently serve organised crime, need to be identified and dealt with appropriately.
“This initiative will further strengthen our financial compliance regime and we welcome the information sharing protocol as a deterrent to those involved in serious organised crime who would seek to use solicitors, or other professionals, to facilitate their activities.”
Serious organised crime group mapping by the SCDEA has identified 4,472 individuals involved in 360 crime groups in Scotland. Of the total individuals, 291 have been identified as professional facilitators and specialists who provide vital advice and support to crime groups, including hauliers, financiers, security experts, lawyers and accountants. Targeting these specialists is a key priority for the SCDEA. The SCDEA is committed to working with law enforcement agencies and partners across the public and private sectors to develop innovative tactics to disrupt serious organised crime.
