Let's Catch Gangsters Off Guard

Apr 27 2008

LAWS introduced in Scotland last year should have cleaned up the murky world of private security firms.

But they appear to have had little effect on weeding out criminals from the highly lucrative industry.

Today we reveal how gangland figure Andy Cairns - a convicted armed robber and a double murder suspect - is pocketing vast sums of taxpayers' cash as a security firm boss.

It is sickening to find our taxes help people such as Cairns, left, enjoy a life of luxury by paying them to provide "security".

The Security Industry Authority was introduced in Scotland to stop firms being used as fronts for organised crime.

It means criminals cannot be company directors. Yet crooks such as Cairns simply keep their names off official company records.

But the real culprits are those indirectly paying these shady firms.

The laws must be tightened up.

Any public servant or company boss turning a blind eye to criminality should feel the full force of the law.