Scots police go global in war on crime gangs

One of force's biggest operations

- By Richard Elias

POLICE Scotland's Chief Constable has revealed for the first time how the force is involved in "one of its biggest operations" to try to tackle the country's raging gangland war.

For the past three months, the feud has seen a series of violent incidents including machete attacks, an OAP and a schoolboy being assaulted, numerous firebombings and a string of drive-by shootings. But now Jo Farrell has spoken of the tactics which the force is employing to calm the situation and put the offenders behind bars.

Today, she will address the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to brief them on the operation which has been codenamed Operation Portaledge.

Ms Farrell has confirmed that her detectives are liaising with law enforcement agencies around the world in an attempt to track down the perpetrators.

Targeted

She is expected to tell the SPA: "This month, I provide an overview of disruption and enforcement, including dozens of arrests, in response to targeted attacks in the east and west of Scotland, under 'Operation Portaledge'.