Group 4 Securicor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Group 4 Securicor plc | |
 |
|
| Type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Group 4 Securicor plc (LSE: GFS) is the world's second-largest security services provider. Formed by the merger of Securicor and Group 4 Falck in July 2004, it employs over 400,000 people across 110 nations and six continents. Its services include manned security, operation of criminal justice systems, electronic security systems, and financial services including cash transfer. Its headquarters are in Crawley, UK.
Group 4 Securicor also owns the Wackenhut Corporation, a leading provider of security services in North America.
Group 4 Securicor is the subject of a global campaign by union workers alleging that subsidiaries in places like Indonesia, India, Uganda, Israel [1] Halifax, Nova Scotia and the USA undermine labour and human rights standards. Some of these groups are organised under the banner of Focus on Group 4 Securicor[2]. This group backed protests at Group 4 Securicor's annual general meeting in London in 2005[3] and 2006. The 2006 US State Department Report on Human Rights in Indonesia [4] released in March 2006 featured the on-going dispute in Jakarta with Group4/Securicor . In July 2006 the Indonesian Securicor workers had a substantial win - but the campaigners continue to support other Group 4 Securicor workers.[5]
The company has long disputed the claims and points to its strong relationships with unions around the world, including the GMB in Britain[6], with which it hosted a joint parliamentary reception the night before the 2006 annual general meeting.
[edit] History
In 2003 Group 4 Falck signed a Detention Services Contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (Australia)[7]. Under this contract Group 4 Falck took over direct control of Australia's refugee detention centres from Australasian Correctional Management, owned by its subsidiary Wackenhut, which had run them since 1998.
During the time, when Group 4 was contracted by the British government to provide security for prisons in 1993, the company shortly became a laughing stock by the media after a series of security blunders.[citation needed]
Securicor was also involved with leading mobile phone operator O2, which it co founded with British Telecom as Cellnet in 1985. Securicor sold its share in the company to BT in 1999, resulting in BT Cellnet, which was later spun off as O2.
The company is currently trying to acquire security plus Ltd based in uttoxeter. The Service Employees International Union stated on March 24, 2007 that the firm letting killers, rapists, terror suspects go unchecked.[8]
[edit] Trivia
The anarcho-punk band Crass wrote a song entitled "Securicor", criticizing the corporation. In several games in the GTA video game series, the armored cars, or "Securicars," are branded "Gruppe Sechs," literally translated from German to "Group 6" but also a play on the pronunciation for group sex.
Monty Python's Flying Circus satirized it in a Gilliam animation link in Episode 37. Gilliam called his animation Securicor Ambulances, Ltd.
