Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill is touring the site of the "Scottish Crime Campus" at Gartcosh this morning, which when completed is intended to "bring together a number of law enforcement agencies working to disrupt serious organised crime." 

MacAskill will be accompanied by Johnny Gwynne the SCDEA's Deputy Director General and Vic Emery the Convenor of the SPSA.

Ahead of the visit, MacAskill released a statement endorsing the Scottish Government's "full commitment" to the creation of a crime campus.

"Bringing together key staff from the SCDEA, SPSA Forensic Services (Glasgow), COPFS, SOCA and HMRC under one roof will help them work together more effectively in purpose-built facilities with the latest state-of-the-art technology," the statement said.

"This sends out a strong message to the criminal gangs that we will use every means at our disposal to protect our communities from the threat they pose. The new powers in the Criminal Justice and Licensing bill send these gangsters, and the people who help them control their empires and manage their financial affairs, a strong message that they will not be able to operate in Scotland with impunity.

"The new offence of directing serious organised crime is aimed at making it easier to convict those who direct crime but distance themselves from the activity on a day to day basis. By targetting those people who direct crime, or those, who chose to turn a blind eye to it, and monitoring these crooks financial affairs, we are putting them on notice that this Government, working with the other members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce is determined to take them on and take them down."