A CRIME-BUSTING police squad have claimed to have stopped Glasgow gangsters from getting their hands on more than £5 million in business contracts.

Pubs, security firms, beauty salons, and car washes are said to be among 128 city companies that are fronts for organised crime, the Evening Times can today reveal.

And the Serious and Organised Crime Intervention Unit have prevented prevented companies acting as gangster fronts from getting £5.1m in business since April.

Detectives have listed 46 serious and organised crime groups linked to "seemingly legitimate businesses" as they reveal how far gangsters have infiltrated almost every industry.

Police explained how the "disruption" techniques used against gangsters and the "clean skins" who their front companies.

Detective Superintendent Andy Gunn, head of the Organised Crime Unit in Glasgow, told the Evening Times: "There are two strands to our strategy - disrupt and deter.

"What the Intervention Unit achieves is hugely important in tackling serious and organised crime.

"Sometimes, the criminal justice element of a case doesn't always get us the results that we want.

"But the work of the Intervention Unit has a real outcome and a real impact.

"By stopping those involved in serious and organised crime getting their hands on legitimate cash, they then may become involved in illegal activity, which makes it easier to detect and arrest them."

Police said around 1000 members of crime groups are currently working in rackets including drugs, prostitution, money laundering, tobacco smuggling, counterfeit goods and extortion, in the Glasgow area.

But gangsters can be barred from landing lucrative multi-million pound contracts, even if they do not have a criminal record.

Sergeant Grant McHarrie and his team focus on efforts to disrupt and dismantle the most serious organised crime groups in Glasgow.

As well as arresting and catching crooks, his job is to make it as hard as possible for them to operate

He works with public sector bodies and businesses to keep gangland firms away from legitimate contracts.

This includes passing on intelligence about suspected organised criminals with partner agencies, local authorities and health boards.

Sergeant McHarrie said: "The main aim is to disrupt these serious organised crime groups as much as possible.

"However, they are becoming more aware of how to keep their hands on their ill-gotten gains, so we have to try and stay one step ahead.

"We will use whatever tactics we can to make life difficult for people involved in serious organised crime.

DS Gunn explained that officers are adopting an 'Al Capone approach' - if they can't catch the crooks in the act, they will tackle them for other offences, including tax evasion, just like US authorities did with the infamous mobster in 1930s Chicago.

Sergeant McHarrie said: "By working with partner agencies, we can take someone's driving licence away if they don't have insurance.

"This may seem minor, but it can have a huge effect on those involved in serious organised crime.

"You can't move drugs about or money easily if you don't have a car.

"It's about what doing whatever we can to inconvenience them and disrupt their 'business'."

Across Scotland, police are monitoring around 650 firms which are fronts for organised crime

DS Gunn added: "Tackling serious organised crime is one of Police Scotland's top priorities, and where it infiltrates legitimate business, we will take action."