Privately owned property support services company OCS is among the sponsors of the Security Research Initiative (SRI) – Prof Martin Gill’s university-industry collaboration.
The study seeks to assess clients’ views of security, the value attached to security, and security effectiveness. The aim: knowledge of what works and what does not. Chris Cracknell, chief executive of OCS, said: "We at OCS see this as an excellent opportunity to enable us to assess the clients’ view of security and the significance of this study highlights the link of the industry to the University of Leicester, the foremost university undertaking research into criminology. As a company I believe we can learn a lot from experts such as Prof Gill, which is why the OCS Group has links to many universities nationwide.”
Martin Gill is Professor of Criminology at the University of
Leicester and Director of Perpetuity (PRCI), a spin-out company from the university. Prof Gill said: "Even when businesses take security seriously, I have found it is based on a poor understanding of what is effective. Business crime is at a high despite a plethora of security measures. The fact is that as offenders get smarter – so should security.” The study is supported by UK security associations: ASIS International, the British Security Industry Association and The Security Institute.
About the firm
The firm OCS has a turnover of £500m, providing property support services. Offering one complete solution (hence OCS) from a single point of contact, its six divisions encompass technical, security, catering, transport, cleaning and hygiene.
