Parliament challenged to get tough on corporate crime
MSPs will today vote on Scottish Green proposals for tougher enforcement for crimes committed by corporations, including causing environmental damage.
In her amendment to today’s Scottish Government debate on justice, Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman will challenge parliament to recognise the urgent need to identify and increase enforcement action against corporate and environmental crime.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Scottish Greens justice spokesperson Maggie Chapman said: “While Scotland needs a greater focus on prevention and rehabilitation to reduce reoffending and tackle the unacceptable levels of violence, self-harm and suicide in our prisons, we also need to recognise that our justice system is much more punitive to individuals than it is to big businesses, even when those corporations cause massive amounts of harm to their workers or our environment.
“This means empowering trade unions and giving regulators like the Scottish Environment Protection Agency greater enforcement powers. We should be encouraging sustainable business, not send a message that the most damaging behaviours are inconsequential.”