Meeting of the Parliament 08 November 2023
I add my support for the cashback for communities programme and for the Scottish Conservative amendment. I commend the scheme and recognise that, since 2008, it has managed to reinvest in community projects up to £130 million of the money that has been obtained through the proceeds of crime legislation.
I also want to highlight that, in the most recent round of cashback funding, which was in March, it was pledged that £20 million would be invested in projects that support young people into employment. I note that that funding aims to deliver a range of trauma-informed and person-centric services, with the cashback for communities website stating that services and activities will be delivered for young people who are at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour and young people who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences, for young people’s health, including their mental health, and to support communities that have been affected by crime.
My colleague Meghan Gallacher highlighted the moving forward+ programme, which is delivered by the National Autistic Society, but it is worth repeating that that programme supports disadvantaged autistic young people on the path to becoming more engaged citizens, which, in turn, reduces their chances of becoming victims or perpetrators of crime.
It will come as no surprise to anyone that I applaud the focus of the most recent round of funding, and I will be very interested in any information on the outcomes of phase 6 of the programme.
I ask members to imagine what could be done if the full amount of confiscation orders was collected and if we could remove more dirty money from organised crime gangs. According to the latest data from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, more than £1.5 million-worth of confiscation orders are currently in arrears. Of the £19 million-worth of orders that have been imposed over the past five years, £14 million has been paid off, which leaves a staggering £5 million outstanding and uncollected. In 2022, it was reported that more than £11 million of dirty money had not been paid back. When we consider the good that such money could do and the fact that it has been obtained through criminal processes, it is imperative that we ensure that the orders that are imposed are paid in full.
It is also necessary that the confiscation orders are robust and fitting, given the amount that was earned from the crime committed. I was shocked to hear of a case in which a person, after selling fake luxury items such as watches, sunglasses, clothing and aftershave totalling more than £1 million, was requested to repay only £31,000. That is utterly ridiculous. I was also shocked to hear that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service had “no issue” with reducing the amount to be repaid after an appeal. Unfortunately, that narrative makes a mockery of the system and only perpetuates a soft-touch approach to people who break the law and swindle people out of their hard-earned money, and it seems to underscore the message that crime does pay, when it should not.
Surely it would be sensible to review the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 so that we can look to recover more cash from organised crime gangs and cunning petty swindlers. Too many times, organised crime makes substantial sums, but authorities are unable to recover those ill-gotten gains or they simply do not have the resources to fulfil the task. More powers should be afforded so that our justice system can go after the criminal gangs, apply appropriate penalties and force payment in full.
I will always stand up for trauma-experienced children and young people, and if there is a way in which we can redistribute funds to actively support positive change in the lives of our young people and help them to thrive and go on to achieve their potential, it will have my full support. Let us review the 2002 act, update the serious organised crime strategy and properly fund the programme to put cash back into our communities.
16:29