New legislation is scheduled to be enacted in April to licence taxi and private hire car booking offices. Private hire taxi firms have often been used by organised criminals as a front for laundering criminal earnings.

"The Scottish Government recognises the concerns that have been expressed by a number of licensing authorities and the police about the absence of any effective regulation for taxi and private hire car booking offices. It also acknowledges the concern that some booking offices may be using unlicensed vehicles and drivers to fulfil hires, and that other illegal activities may also be taking place," the Scottish Government said in a statement.

"This is clearly to the detriment of the travelling public. It is also damaging to the credibility of the taxi industry, and the individuals who work within it.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said that tackling serious organised crime is one of the Scottish Government's top priorities.

"Where it infiltrates legitimate business, like the taxi and private hire trade, we are determined to take action," he said.

"We won't allow hard working cabbies who borrow from the bank or mortgage their home to buy a cab and make a living to be driven off the road by crooks and gangsters. We all have a duty to tackle organised crime. We as a Government will clamp down hard on it, but the public have a responsibility too

"This new legislation will provide for police checks through the licensing of booking offices to be carried out on those responsible for the operation of such businesses, as well as enabling police and licensing enforcement personnel access for inspection of premises and records.

"I set up the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to bring together the key players tasked with dealing with the criminal gangs who prey on our hard-pressed communities. Taskforce members are working together to ensure that Scotland is a difficult place for organised criminals to do business.

"I hope these measures will act as a deterrent to unlawful activity - and send a clear message to organised criminals that there is no room in this industry for those who want to use taxi firms as a front for their illegal activities."