Renfrewshire Driver wrote:
Surely a more pressing licensing issue would be the security business where various T.V. & newspaper articles have highlighted how over the last few years gangsters have established a major & lucrative presence
Didn't the Scottish Executive give up on that and hand it back to the industry regulator in England?
So much for devolution
I cant find anything recent on it, but this was a few months ago. It probably got delayed by the election and all that which held up the Bill.
ROGUE security firms in Scotland will face a major crackdown under new legislation to set up a UK Serious Organised Crime Agency.
It follows a spate of fires in the Glasgow area which were linked to turf wars among private security firms.
The Bill approving the new agency also extends the powers of the Security Industry Authority, already operating in England and Wales, to Scotland.
It will cut out any delay caused by the Scottish Parliament creating its own legislation.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "The public has very real concerns with the private security industry and some of the individuals and companies operating within it.
"While it is a small minority who are involved in criminal activity, the nature of the crimes, such as money laundering and drug dealing, are very serious.
"Regulation will protect public safety as well as the responsible employer.
"By including Scotland within the remit of an already established authority, we ensure there is no duplication of administrative effort and costs.
"It also means firms which operate both in Scotland and in England and Wales will be required to deal with only one authority.
"Scottish Ministers are committed to forging a very close working relationship with the agency."
The decision to back the amendment of Private Security Act follows talks between Westminster and Holyrood over the last 18 months.
However, Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White, who has campaigned for tighter regulation, expressed doubts about the new legislation.
She said: "I'm pleased they've responded to the pressure but I don't know if this will be effective enough.
"I think we may need our own bureau to investigate these firms and perhaps our own legislation so we can stop rogue operators."
Scottish Ministers must agree the new agency's annual plan as it relates to Scotland and its staff operating in Scotland will be subject to the direction of the Lord Advocate in the investigation and prosecution of crime.
Recent attacks on Glasgow building sites were thought to have been linked to turf wars between gangland figures who operate private security firms.
In September a blaze which caused more than a £ 1million worth of damage broke out on a housing estate in Crookston which security form Osiris had the contract to protect.
A total of 16 flats on a Bryant Homes Development at Riverford Road, Pollokshaws, were torched in May 2003, the same month in which 12 partially -built flats were destroyed in Killearn Street, Possilpark.
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