Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary, called on the public to work with police to clamp down on organised crime just days after The Herald reported Strathclyde Police’s decision to write to NHS Greater Glasgow Health Board to recommend it does not go ahead with a £2m taxi contract to a firm previously linked to organised crime.
Mr MacAskill said he was keen to ensure that the public realised when buying counterfeit goods or using certain taxis, that they are contributing to serious organised crime.
Mr MacAskill said: “Tackling serious organised crime is one of the Scottish Government’s top priorities.
“Where it infiltrates legitimate business, like the taxi and private hire trade, we are determined to take action. We won’t allow hard-working cabbies who borrow from the bank to mortgage their home to buy a cab and make a living to be driven off the road by crooks and gangsters.”
Legislation was brought in earlier this year that will see taxi booking offices having to obtain licences for the first time.
Police checks of premises and records are also being introduced.
Mr MacAskill said: “Working with other members of the serious organised crime taskforce, we want to send a clear message to organised criminals that there is no room in this industry for those who want to use
taxi and private hire car firms as a front for illegal activities.
The minister was speaking after meeting Inspector Frank Smith of Lothian and Borders Police, the capital’s newly-appointed taxi examination inspector, and Derek Bridgeford of the Scottish Taxi Federation.
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