Securicor plc was one of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
's largest security businesses. It was once a constituent of the
FTSE 100 Index
The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, also called the FTSE 100 Index, FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the "Footsie" , is a share index of the 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange with (in principle) the highest market ...
but merged with
Group 4 Falck
G4S is a British multinational private security company headquartered in London, England. The company was set up in 2004 when London-based Securicor amalgamated with Danish firm Group 4 Falck. The company offers a range of services, including ...
in 2004.
History
The Company was founded by
Edward Shortt
Edward Shortt, KC (10 March 1862 – 10 November 1935) was a British lawyer and Liberal Party politician. He served as a member of David Lloyd George's cabinet, most significantly as Home Secretary from 1919 to 1922.
Background and educatio ...
, a former
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
Cabinet Minister, in 1935 as ''Nightwatch Services'':
[Group 4's Danes to swoop on Securicor]
The Times, 1 February 2004 its guards rode bicycles and wore old police uniforms.
[ However, in 1939 it was taken over by ]Lord Willingdon
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (12 September 1866 – 12 August 1941), was a British Liberal politician and administrator who served as Governor General of Canada, the 13th since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and Go ...
and Henry Tiarks who developed it into a leading security business. It changed its name to ''Security Corps'' in 1951 and shortened it to ''Securicor'' in 1953.
In 1960 it was acquired by ''Associated Hotels'' which itself dated back to 1923.
In 1984 one of its security guards, John James McWilliams, was murdered while working in London.
Securicor, along with co-founder British Telecom
BT Group plc (trade name, trading as BT and formerly British Telecom) is a British Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered in London, England. It has operations in around 180 countries and is th ...
, was involved with the creation of mobile phone operator Cellnet
O₂ UK (legally incorporated as Telefonica UK Limited, stylized as O₂) is a British telecommunications services provider, headquartered in Slough, England. It operates under the O2 brand. It is owned by Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint ventu ...
in 1985. Securicor sold its share in the company to British Telecom
BT Group plc (trade name, trading as BT and formerly British Telecom) is a British Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered in London, England. It has operations in around 180 countries and is th ...
in 1999, resulting in the formation of BT Cellnet
O₂ UK (legally incorporated as Telefonica UK Limited, stylized as O₂) is a British telecommunications services provider, headquartered in Slough, England. It operates under the O2 brand. It is owned by Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint ventu ...
, which was later spun off as O2.
In 2004 Securicor merged with Group 4 Falck
G4S is a British multinational private security company headquartered in London, England. The company was set up in 2004 when London-based Securicor amalgamated with Danish firm Group 4 Falck. The company offers a range of services, including ...
to become Group 4 Securicor
G4S is a British multinational private security company headquartered in London, England. The company was set up in 2004 when London-based Securicor amalgamated with Danish firm Group 4 Falck. The company offers a range of services, including ...
.Group 4 Falck and Securicor plc announce terms of merger
Nordic Business Report, 24 February 2004
References
Security companies of the United Kingdom
Defunct companies based in London
Companies established in 1935
Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
1935 establishments in England
Companies disestablished in 2004
2004 disestablishments in England
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