Fighting organised crime requires creative approaches. Having a “kite mark” for security firms giving approved contractor status to those that opened up their books to vetting, was a great example.
But the voluntary system has not been enough to end criminality in the security sector and so now Police Scotland are pushing for a new system making it compulsory for security firms to be licensed as approved contractors.
It is perhaps surprising that the scheme did not entirely work. Given a choice between approved contractors, and those lacking that status, it is hard to understand why any client would choose the latter.
Further action is required, however, and the proposal to make the scheme compulsory has a lot of merit, provided smaller firms can be supported through the process. Requiring firms to open up their books to close scrutiny should provide customers with the reassurance they need. Large contractors will naturally want to embrace the new scheme, and will have legal and administrative staff to do the work for them, but smaller companies with limited staff could struggle to cope with the bureaucratic burden and therefore help should be available to them.
Of course criminals do not restrict themselves to the security sector. Tanning salons, nail bars, shops and many other types of business might be used by criminals, plying a phantom trade and infuriating legitimate traders in the same line of work.
Police Scotland have now raised the possibility of a voluntary approval scheme being introduced for other businesses outside the security sector. Traders exasperated at being tarred with the same brush as criminal outfits might well jump at the chance. Others, though, may feel that the very existence of such a scheme will cast suspicion on businesses in sectors where there is little or no problem with criminality. Consultation with the business community is essential to gauge whether there is an appetite for such a scheme.
It is depressing that any of these measures must be considered, but in the fight against organised crime, innovation is key.
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