POLICE have called for tough new measures to help squeeze gangsters out of Scotland's security industry.

Senior detectives want the Scottish Government to make an approved contractor scheme already in operation compulsory.

This, they believe, would effectively make it impossible for firms that have not opened their books to vetting as "approved contractors" to operate north of the border.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that it is considering the proposal, which is backed by big industry operators who already meet the scheme's standards.

However, some industry insiders fear a crackdown could hurt smaller firms that may not have underworld links.

The proposed move comes as senior law enforcement figures sound out Scotland's business community on a wider voluntary system of "kitemarks" for firms that can show they are not criminal fronts.

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Mitchell said: "Police Scotland would support the approved contractor scheme in terms of private security being compulsory. That could probably be put in place by the Scottish Government through a directive."

Security firms play a key role in the underworld, providing legitimate "front" employment for gangland enforcers and supporting other work, such as racketeering and drug dealing.

But criminal security firms already struggle to compete with major businesses with full approved contractor status.

Mr Mitchell, citing Police Scotland's organised crime mapping, said the number of gangland security firms was down by 22 per cent thanks to close work with the Security Industry Authority.

He said: "There are smaller businesses who are not involved in organised crime who may suffer an negative impact with trying to become an approved contractor.

"There would need to be a level of support to ensure that there was not a detrimental effect on them."

Mr Mitchell confirmed that police were developing a wider scheme under which firms could have a badge or kitemark to show they were "crime-free".

It is understood that work on such a scheme has been under way for some time but that it is very much at the design stages.

Mr Mitchell, a senior figure in Police Scotland's anti-organised crime team, said: "There were all sorts of ideas for businesses that are genuine. "One idea that was developed was a kitemark. We would probably need to look at the business sector and see if there is an appetite for business to sign up.

"It is all very well for law enforcement to push at this, but does business want it?"

Police have identified more than 700 companies across the wider public sector that they believe are the fronts for organised crime.

That is a fraction of the more than 300,000 business in the country. However, a kitemark scheme could be particularly useful in areas where there are heavier levels of criminalisation, such as cash businesses and those with professional skills needed by gangsters.

On the security industry, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are in the early stages of considering the options available for a mandatory approval scheme for private security businesses in Scotland.

"Any eventual proposal will be subject to consultation and will involve a business impact assessment."

James Kelly, chairman of the British Security Industry Association said: "We support the proposed mandatory requirement for approved contractor accreditation.

"However, with so many companies now subscribing to the scheme, it is no longer the aspirational benchmark that was originally intended, so buyers and other stakeholders are encouraged to look also for higher quality differentiators such as BSIA membership when sourcing a private security provider."