HOLYROOD COMMITTEE SUPPORTS TOUGHER FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR CRIMINAL COMPANIES

HOLYROOD COMMITTEE SUPPORTS TOUGHER FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR CRIMINAL COMPANIES

Dr Bill Wilson MSP has welcomed today’s decision by the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee to accept his amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, empowering Scottish courts to order background inquiry reports into the finances of companies convicted of criminal offences. Currently, convicted companies are able to present their own version of their finances to the courts, so avoiding significant fines by claiming poverty.

SNP MSP for the West of Scotland Dr Wilson commented:

“I trust the Bill will become law and my amendment with it. This is long overdue. My research showed that companies found criminally responsible for killing people in Scotland were being fined £12,500 or less in 50% of cases. A significant contributing factor to this is the fact that courts have no power to order independent inquiries into companies’ finances.

“As I said to the Justice Committee this morning, it strikes me as ridiculous that we rely on convicted companies to provide the reports which will influence the level of fine. It is the equivalent of a judge sternly wagging his finger at a convicted housebreaker and saying, ‘You are a terribly naughty fellow. Now please tell me how much of a fine you can afford to pay?’“