Ashok Bajpai, managing director, G4S talks to BW Businessworld about the need to secure vital installations. Edited excerpts of an interview:
On internal security needs that you fulfil...G4S is country’s leading professional security organisation. We have more than 130,000 employees and over 160 branches spread in India. Besides its core business of secure solutions, facilities management, and security systems, G4S offers a range of services including training, event security, security consultancy & risk management and central monitoring services.
We provide services to clients like business process outsourcing, retail, healthcare, infrastructure, IT, banking, diplomatic missions & embassies, residential, hospitality, communication and aviation.
On modern operations...G4S secures highly sensitive government installations and global companies through the use of cutting edge systems and highly trained manpower. In India, we look forward to bring in this same level of technology as per requirements of our clients. Today our technology is one of the strongest differentiators and provides a huge security advantage to our customers. In all, a responsive national infrastructure, countrywide response and cutting-edge technology gives G4S a winning combination.
I see the electronic surveillance industry growing exponentially. We are a major player in providing integrated solutions with manned guarding and electronic surveillance, along with emergency response. No company in India can match the investment that G4S has made in providing 360 degree security to its clients.
On well-trained personnel...G4S has state-of-the-art and best in class training schools network, spread across the country, where we provide food and accommodation facility to our under- trained guards. All our guards are trained for certain duration as defined by the Private Security Agency Regulation Act, 2005.
On newer threats...With the advent of smart cities, various kinds of security threats may come up, particularly cyber-attacks, which can bring the entire city structure to a standstill. There is a great opportunity for systems integration, cyber security, and of course, CCTV and other security equipment. We at G4S are constantly innovating for newer and modern techniques to protect our customers for such security threats.
On the private apparatus complementing the state in meeting internal security needs...On the global front, G4S secures some of the high-risk airports across the world. We are working closely with the government to secure prisons in the UK and Australia, among other vital defence and civilian installations.
In London, for example, there were over 17,000 cameras installed after the 2005 bombing. It is one of the densest cities in terms of security. Here also we need a greater public-private partnership to ensure this kind of implementation of smart infrastructure.
suman@businessworld.in
BW Reporters
Suman K Jha was the deputy editor with BW Businessworld
