Criminals are £6m worse off

MORE than £6 million was last year confiscated from organised crime gangs in Scotland under proceeds of crime legislation, according to new figures.

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini said that the figures sent a clear message to criminals.

"By seizing their cash and their assets, we will stop them in their tracks to ensure their future livelihoods are restricted far beyond any sentence they may face," she said.

The Scottish Government will today launch a new strategy to tackle organised crime. Findings from a year-long investigation into the extent of organised crime will also be revealed.