HMICS: Police watchdog urges use of seized crime cash to fund fight against gangs

Scotland’s police watchdog chief is calling for talks on allowing money seized from criminals to be reinvested directly into tackling organised crime in Scotland.

The latest report from the HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland praised Police Scotland’s response to recent increase in organised crime-related violence.

But he warned that such efforts have come at a “significant” financial cost.

Mr Naylor said he would like discussions to begin about introducing an Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme in Scotland, which would allow Police Scotland and other approved bodies to keep a portion of proceeds seized from criminals to spend directly on fighting crime.

Similar schemes are already in operation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr Naylor said: “The early months of 2025 have seen a return of significant violence and disorder associated with serious organised crime groups.

“Police Scotland’s operational activity has resulted in a significant number of arrests.

“However, the increasingly complex nature of such criminality reinforces the need to ensure policing continues to have the resources required to protect communities across Scotland from those who seek to cause the greatest harm.

“In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, Proceeds of Crime Act reporting agencies can and do receive money from the proceeds recovered from crime under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS).

“The Home Office encourages agencies to invest ARIS funds into areas that will increase asset recovery or, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities.

“This process is not applicable in Scotland.

“At a time of increasing demand, I would be encouraged to see conversations to consider if some funding could be released from seized assets to bolster the fight against organised crime – and maintain Scotland’s position as a top performer in this area.”

Proceeds of crime funding should go towards frontline policing efforts iStock

Mr Naylor’s annual report states that during 2023-24 more than £10m was recovered in Scotland using Proceeds of Crime legislation.

This money goes back into the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, which is funded by Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) seizure and provides free activities and programmes for young people.

Elsewhere in the UK ‘proceeds of crime’ assets to the value of £243.3m were recovered from confiscation, forfeiture and civil recovery orders during 2023-24.

From this, £98.1m of Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme money was distributed to Proceeds of Crime Act reporting agencies – including police forces, to fund local crime fighting priorities.

In his 2024–2025 annual report, Mr Naylor said policing reform had clearly strengthened Scotland’s ability to tackle organised crime compared to before the creation of a single national force.

He said: “These events are often contained within a limited geographical area, but on this occasion have stretched across the east and west regions of the country.”

He added: “These attacks also remind us of the transnational nature and risk posed by organised crime groups and the need for police and law enforcement agencies to work globally to target those involved in directing such activities.”

Mr Naylor said that over the past 12 months, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) had carried out a number of detailed inspections, including a review of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), inspections of road policing, and the police response to missing persons.

HMICS had also carried out joint inspections with other scrutiny partners, in areas including adult support and protection, children at risk of harm, and of police custody centres.

Mr Naylor said work was underway on a joint review with HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland to look at the citation system in Scotland, and on a review with Audit Scotland to look at ‘Best Value’ arrangements across Scottish policing.

He welcomed the recent passing of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 by the Scottish Parliament which strengthens officer vetting and disciplinary powers.

However, he said further work was needed to address the financial impact of the new legislation.

He said: “Too little consideration has been given to the wider impact of the legislation – and how this could affect a number of organisations including Police Scotland, the SPA , the Police Investigations and Review Commission (PIRC), and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“As part of our scrutiny plan for the next three years, we will inspect how Police Scotland – and others – engage in the proactive work required to assess the likely cost – and other
demands that this new legislation will bring.”

Mr Naylor said Police Scotland had been on a reform journey since its creation in 2013, and opportunities remained to redesign the organisation to meet future budgetary challenges.

He added: “Policing in Scotland is a complex and multifaceted activity.

“The reform journey cannot simply be a further reduction of capability and capacity within policing.

“The work that is underway to improve the organisation even further will be challenging and it will take time to deliver outcomes.

“This has to be done while continuing to deliver the high quality of service that the people of Scotland demand and deserve.”