Policy background Legal services – SSDT’s financial sanctions in respect of economic crime
The purpose of the measure is to ensure that the independent Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal for solicitors, the SSDT, has effective enforcement powers that enable it to act appropriately, should any solicitor be found to have undermined the economic crime regime. The intended effects are a more effective deterrent, which will be used in a proportionate way based on the facts and circumstances of each case to ensure economic crime compliance.
	The Scottish Government supports this measure as it will ensure the SSDT has effective enforcement powers in relation to breaches of economic crime. The measure will provide the SSDT parity with England and Wales in respect of the financial sanctions available to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for economic crime. The Law Society of Scotland and the SSDT are supportive of the measure.