Security worker's conviction brings Operation Padlock to successful end

May 15 2008

THIS week’s conviction of Marion Lang marked the end of a three-year legal battle against rogue security firms operating in Lanarkshire.

In 2005, the county was the scene of a bitter turf war between rival security firms.

Complaints had been made to police about intimidation by companies bidding to win lucrative security contracts.

Detectives launched Operation Padlock, a concerted attempt to crack down on the rogue firms.

Police were, at first, met by a wall of silence.

Sources had told the Advertiser that security guards who had been warned off sites by rival firms were too frightened to speak out for fear of reprisals.

Marion Lang had worked with Hamilton-based Lochwood Security as a sales executive alongside gangster Jason Dickson.

Dickson had previously been a director with JD Security which went into liquidation in 2004.

In March 2005, Dickson was given 200 hours’ community service after admitting carrying a knife in a public place.

He had been arrested at a Wishaw building site after police had been told he had been making a bid to take over the site’s security.

His solicitor told Hamilton Sheriff Court that Dickson had been using the knife as part of his duties with JD Security and did not plan to use it for anything else.

The Crown accepted Dickson’s not guilty plea to carrying an offensive weapon — a black leather cosh — during the same incident.

Lang had intended to call Dickson as a witness in her defence during her trial.

However, she changed her mind when, in the course of proceedings, a national newspaper printed a story highlighting Dickson’s failure to pay a £110,000 fine imposed for attempted extortion.

When the Advertiser contacted Dickson in 2005 he insisted that Lochwood Security were not muscling in on anyone, adding: “Marion (Lang) is one of the most persistent and persuasive women in the business.

“She has a job to do just like everyone else and has targets to meet.

“People are just trying to ruin our reputation in the security business.

“We get most of our work in Hamilton because we undercut other security firms.”

Lang told the Advertiser that the accusations were “rubbish.”

In 2005 a security worker, who did not wish to be named, told the Advertiser that staff were being threatened with violence and intimidation.

“They are turning up outwith office hours at sites telling guards they are putting up their signs.

“Some firms are happy to pay the extra premium because they don’t want any extra hassle or trouble.

“People are too scared to go to the police about it.

“It is happening about twice a week in Lanarkshire.”

Head of South Lanarkshire CID DCI Alan Welsh said yesterday that Operation Padlock, which began in February 2005, had been “long and difficult.”

He added: “It involved targeting criminals who threatened and intimidated members of the construction industry with a view to obtaining site security contracts.

“As a result of a lengthy and painstaking police investigation supported by the cooperation of the witnesses and businesses affected, the operation came to a successful and satisfactory conclusion.

“This conviction should be a warning to those in the security industry who would wish to conduct their business in such a manner that it will not be tolerated, and every effort will be made to bring them to justice.”