Taxi Driver Online

Exclusive: Police clean up of security industry thrown into chaos

THE security industry watchdog's drive to shut firms linked to Scotland's gangland has collapsed in chaos, we can reveal.

A security boss nicknamed The Devil and accused of being an organised criminal by police is only one of a series of directors to overturn bans imposed by the Security Industry Authority.

Bobby Dempster was suspended after police accused him of being a crime boss linked to murder, drugs, money laundering and guns.

But when the Ruchill Security boss took the SIA to court, a sheriff rubbished police intelligence, saying it contained many serious "top-end" allegations but no hard evidence.

During the hearing, it emerged Dempster earned £500,000 last year and had twice been warned by police about threats to his life.

In a scathing judgment, Sheriff Simon Fraser accused the police of making "sweeping allegations".

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court, he said Dempster couldn't "answer, criticise, challenge or refute (except by way of a bald denial) the most serious allegations made" because the alleged incidents were not specific enough.

He added: "The information provided by Strathclyde Police, while containing no doubt very serious allegations, refers to almost nothing that could properly be termed evidence, far less compelling evidence.


"The criminal activity in which he is said to be involved is at the top end of the scale, but the allegations made against him remain only allegations which the authorities, apparently, have taken no steps to advance in the form of criminal charges."

The court heard Dempster, 60, from Bearsden, near Glasgow, was last convicted of a crime 35 years ago.

At the time of being granted his licence, the SIA knew of his convictions.

The Mail told last week how his firm were raking in up to £162,000 a year from the public purse after being hired to guard the £300million Airdrie to Bathgate rail link.

The police intelligence passed to the SIA stated that Dempster "is involved in serious and organised crime" including "firearms, threats, intimidation, fire raising and extreme violence".

Cops said Dempster was backed by sons Bobby Jr, 32, and Barry, 29.

They added: "The individuals controlling Ruchill Security are involved in and associate with persons involved in serious organised crime and present a danger to public safety."

And Dempster "has a history of criminal activity in the north of Glasgow and is documented as being involved in the supply of controlled drugs and money laundering".

But Sheriff Fraser said the police information fell "well short" and £accused the SI A of "acting unreasonably" and applying a "lower standard" than their own criteria.

The SIA's latest humiliation has left the Strathclyde Police campaign to use intelligence against rogue firms in chaos.

Last year, Detective Superintendent John McSporran launched the strategy to share data to stop gangster firms winning public contracts.

It was hailed for finally taking on gangsters who use taxi, security and other businesses as fronts.

The shambles in the security industry can be revealed just weeks after a Glagow cab firm, Network Private Hire, were awarded a £2million NHS contract after threatening legal action if the health board banned them because of police intelligence claiming the company had links to gangsters.

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker is now demanding an explanation from justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Baker said : "Mr MacAskill promised to get tough on serious and organised crime but he's been left with egg on his face.

"He has failed to deliver. I hope police were not under any degree of political pressure to deliver.

"We're back to square one. We need a clear statement from him about what he's going to do about this mess. The public will be very concerned that people the police have branded as very serious criminals are now back working with official accreditation.

"The criminals wil l be bolder than ever."

Strathclyde Police said: "Blocking £8million from organised crime in the past six months alone points to a strategy that is clearly working. There have been more successes than setbacks."

source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I was speaking last week to one of the owners from Glasgow taxis and he told me that they are not doing any of the hospital work and that the ph company cant cover the work and have been trying to get other companies to help them.The other companies are backing Glasgow taxis and are refusing to help which i think they should be applauded for.

Aye Macca's in a right stushie. He's gone off on one without the facts to back his case, such is desperation for a "result".

Which is what happens when you trust cops who need a headline.

Dearie me.



Following on from the alleged Libyan bomber, who has now lived long past the three months life expectancy that brought Macca to release him on "compassionate" grounds, isn't Macca's coat on a shoogly peg?



Isn't his pain truly pleasurable

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"