| G4S plc | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Public limited company |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Key people | Alf Duch-Pedersen, Chairman Nick Buckles, CEO |
| Industry | Security |
| Revenue | £4,357 million (2006) |
| Operating income | £277 million (2006) |
| Employees | 500,000 |
| Website | www.g4s.com |
G4S plc (formerly Group 4 Securicor, LSE: GFS, OMX: G4S) 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, UK. G4S also owns the Wackenhut Corporation, a leading provider of security services in North America. It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
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History
Securicor, along with co-founder British Telecom, was also involved with the creation of mobile phone operator Cellnet beginning in 1985. Securicor sold its share in the company to British Telecom in 1999, resulting in BT Cellnet, which was later spun off as O2. 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, including escaped prisoners.[1] In 2003 Group 4 Falck signed a Detention Services Contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (Australia).[2] 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.
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.[3] This group backed protests at Group 4 Securicor's annual general meeting in London in 2005[4] 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.[5] In July 2006 the Indonesian Securicor workers had a substantial win - but the campaigners continue to support other Group 4 Securicor workers.[6] The company has long disputed these claims and points to its strong relationships with unions around the world, including the GMB in Britain[7], with which it hosted a joint parliamentary reception the night before the 2006 annual general meeting.
In popular culture
- 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.
References
- ^ BBC News: Surviving the jokes (2002-02-15).
- ^ Media Release: Group 4 To Manage Immigration Detention Facilities (2003-08-27).
- ^ Focus on G4S
- ^ Phillip Inman; David Gow. "Unions say Group 4 is unfair to workers", Guardian Unlimited, 2005-06-30.
- ^ Indonesia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2006-03-08).
- ^ Focus on G4S: Violating Workers' Rights: G4S in Indonesia
- ^ G4S praised by Prime Minister for Union Recognition Agreement with GMB. G4S (2006-06-22).
External links
- Official Company website
- Company Profile on Yahoo Finance
- G4S in Southern Africa, Report and interview
