Pre-tax profits at 'Top Ten' contractor Securicor for the year to 30 September 2001 increased by 38% to £74 million on a turnover of £1,093.7 million.
Approximately £370 million of the increased turnover was accounted for by acquisitions, with organic turnover growth showing a "healthy" 7.1%.

Group turnover during the year rose to £1,136 million – an increase of 58% on 2000 – with profit before tax up 16% at £63.8 million.

In terms of the security division, UK Security Services (comprising Securicor Guarding and airport contracting division Securicor ADI) is now operating as an integrated unit. Nonetheless, an official Group statement sent to SMT states that: "The guarding market remains highly competitive, which has constrained the growth and profitability of this sector over the past 12 months."

UK Cash Services enjoyed a successful year, with organic growth above 8%. Almost 1,000 Securicor-branded ATMs are now up-and-running, with the ATM service continuing to grow at a rate of 20% per annum.

Custodial services, which provides integrated justice services, achieved organic turnover growth of 9% and a "good improvement" in profitability.

  • Securicor has unveiled plans to invest £18 million in a bid to heighten defences against robberies and attacks on its Cash-in-Transit couriers.

    The news follows on from a dramatic increase in attacks during the past 12 months ('Judges take tougher line on CiT robbers', News, Security Management Today, November 2001, p9).

    There has been a 25% increase in attacks on Securicor staff and vehicles, with a 47% rise in November last year when compared to the previous period in 2000. Losses resulting from cash robberies have increased by 90% over the last two years alone. Around one third of all incidents now involve the use of firearms.

    Securicor's preventative measures will include new state-of-the-art vehicles (complete with restricted access courtesy of biometric technology), and introducing the latest smoke bomb technology to destroy the contents of cash boxes should they be activated.

    • Source

    SMT