Group 4 (company)
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Security |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Merged with Falck |
| Successor | G4S |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
Key people | Jörgen Philip-Sörensen, (Chairman) |
Group 4 was a security business operating primarily in the United Kingdom and latterly worldwide.
History
The company was established by Jörgen Philip-Sörensen, as a division of Securitas AB in 1968.[1] The name derives from the fact that it brought together four different British security businesses into a single entity which became known as Group 4 Total Security and which was demerged from Securitas AB in 1981.[1] 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.[1] It merged with Falck, a Danish security business, in June 2000 to form Group 4 Falck.[1]
Controversies
1993 prisoner escapes in the United Kingdom
In April 1993, Group 4 held what was described by the Independent as a "carefully stage-managed press conference" to resolve public relations problems after four prisoners were lost in the first seven days of their contract to transport prisoners. Shortly after the press conference it was revealed a further two had been lost.[2] Tony Blair described their performance as a comedy of errors during the first ten days of their contract.[3][4]
References
- ^ a b c d "BBC News: Surviving the jokes". 15 February 2002. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ "Prisoner escort company hit by more blunders: Group 4 press conference called to allay public fears undermined by loss of inmates". London: The Independent. 16 April 1993. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Neville, Simon (22 July 2012). "G4S had a disastrous Olympics – but the company will barely notice". London: The Observer. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ "Prisoner escort company hit by more blunders: Group 4 press conference called to allay public fears undermined by loss of inmates". London: The Independent. 16 April 1993. Retrieved 10 November 2012.