Securicor

Securicor plc was one of the United Kingdom's largest security businesses. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but merged with Group 4 Falck in 2004.

Securicor
TypePublic
IndustrySecurity
FateMerged with Group 4 Falck
SuccessorG4S
Founded1935
Defunct2004
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Key people
Lord Sharman (chairman)

History

The Company was founded by Edward Shortt, a former Liberal Cabinet Minister, in 1935 as Nightwatch Services:[1] its guards rode bicycles and wore old police uniforms.[1] However, in 1939 it was taken over by Lord Willingdon and Henry Tiarks who developed it into a leading security business.[2] It changed its name to Security Corps in 1951[3] and shortened it to Securicor in 1953.[4]

In 1960 it was acquired by Associated Hotels which itself dated back to 1923.[5]

In 1984 one of its security guards, John James McWilliams, was murdered while working in London.[6]

Securicor, along with co-founder British Telecom, was involved with the creation of mobile phone operator Cellnet in 1985. Securicor sold its share in the company to British Telecom in 1999, resulting in the formation of BT Cellnet, which was later spun off as O2.[7]

In 2004 Securicor merged with Group 4 Falck to become Group 4 Securicor.[8]

References
  1. Group 4's Danes to swoop on Securicor The Times, 1 February 2004
  2. Neighbourhood Watch Schemes Hansard, 27 June 1988
  3. The mt interview - Nick Buckles Management Today, 6 June 2005
  4. Company history Funding Universe
  5. The changing of the guard The Independent, 31 March 1996
  6. "Armed robbers jailed for murder". British Universities Film and Video Council. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  7. BT to get the go-ahead to take full control of Cellnet The Independent, 9 December 1997
  8. Group 4 Falck and Securicor plc announce terms of merger Nordic Business Report, 24 February 2004


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