G4S

G4S plc (formerly Group 4 Securicor, , ) is the world's largest security services provider. Formed by the merger of Securicor and Group 4 Falck in July 2004, it employs over 500,000 people across more than 100 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, Sussex, England.

G4S also owns the Wackenhut Corporation, a leading provider of security services in North America.

It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

The company has its origins in a guarding business founded Copenhagen in 1901 by Marius Hogrefe originally known as Kjøbenhavn Frederiksberg Nattevagt and subsequently renamed Falck.

In 2000 Group 4, a security firm formed in the 1960s in Belgium, merged with Falck to form Group 4 Falck. Following the decision by the British Government in 1993 to enter into a contract with Group 4 to provide security for prisons, the company was embarrassed after a series of security blunders, including escaped prisoners. In 2002 Group 4 Falck went on to buy Wackenhut.

In 2003 Group 4 Falck signed a Detention Services Contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (Australia). 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.

In 2004 Group 4 Falck merged with Securicor, a security firm founded in the 1930s in London, to form G4S. Securicor, along with co-founder British Telecom, had been 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.

Operations

G4S provides guarding services at various airports including Heathrow Airport, Oslo Airport, Schipol Airport and Tambo Airport as well as at various facilities belonging to the US, UK and European Governments. It also operates custody facilities, immigration centres and police custody suites and electronic security systems and it provides cash management and logistics services for the main British and European Banks.

Critical Observations

Group 4 Securicor is the subject of a global campaign by union workers alleging that subsidiaries undermine labour and human rights standards. Some of these groups are organised under the banner of the SEIU funded Focus on Group 4 Securicor. This group backed protests at Group 4 Securicor's annual general meeting in London in 2005 and 2006. The 2006 US State Department Report on Human Rights in Indonesia 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.

The company has long disputed these claims and points to its strong relationships with unions around the world, including the GMB in Britain, with which it hosted a joint parliamentary reception the night before the 2006 annual general meeting.

Acquisition of Rock Steady

In March 2008, it was announced that G4S were taking over Scottish Rock Steady Group - who carry out stewarding at major sporting and music events mostly in the UK. Rock Steady events have included Live8 concerts in London, Scottish FA Cup Final & the Download Festival.

In popular culture

The anarcho-punk band Crass wrote a song entitled "Securicor", criticizing the corporation.

References

External links

• Official Company website
• Company Profile on Yahoo Finance
• G4S in Southern Africa, Report and interview