The Northern Irish company Mercury Security Management were named the Best Security Team at the recent SCEPTRE Awards – the ‘Oscars’ of the shopping centre industry – in the Dorchester Hotel, London. CastleCourt Security Manager Stewart McConnell (second left) and Frank Cullen (right) of Mercury Security Management, are pictured as they received the award from host and comedian Hal Cruttenden and Mia Hunt, deputy editor of awards organiser Shopping Centre Magazine at London’s Dorchester Hotel. Runner-up was Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth while other short-listed centres included Westfield in London, Dalton Park in Durham, Middleton Grange in Hartlepool.
Stewart McConnell, CastleCourt Security Manager, said: “At CastleCourt we pride ourselves on the excellent standards of security we have maintained over the years so we are thrilled, both for ourselves and for our partners at Mercury Security, to receive this accolade from our industry. Ours is very much a customer-focussed security operation and we are extremely happy to be working with Northern Ireland’s premier local security company which has an in-depth knowledge of local issues and, more importantly, how to address those issues. Mercury’s experience as Northern Ireland’s leading security company for major shopping centres and retail outlets is second to none.”
Liam Cullen, Mercury’s Regional Director UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award which recognises the wonderful work that has been carried out by CastleCourt and Mercury Security staff and is a credit to the hard work and commitment of the entire team. Our integrated solution of manned guards alongside the latest in CCTV technology, monitored by our award-winning NSI Gold ARC/RVRC Monitoring Centre, continues to provide vital protection to the Centre and its tenants and it is nice to see this gain national recognition.”
Graham Parker of award organiser Shopping Centre Magazine said: “The Security Team of the Year award recognises best practice in shopping centre security whether by directly employed security teams, specialist contractors or integrated services suppliers. CastleCourt Security Manager Stewart McConnell works in partnership with Mercury Security Management to lead a 16-strong on-site team which has made a massive contribution to the reduction of city centre crime.”
CastleCourt opened its doors in 1990 and with an annual footfall of 14 million customers and over one million vehicles using the centre every year, the centre’s security requirement is one of the biggest in Northern Ireland’s retail.
Founded in 2001, Mercury Security operates out of offices in Lisburn, London and the Republic of Ireland. Retail clients and shopping centres include the Kennedy Centre, Abbey Centre, Park Centre, Connswater and Bow Street Mall. The company offers services including CCTV remote monitoring, manned guarding and concierge services, key-holding and alarm response, satellite-tracked mobile patrols, staff and vehicle escort services, lone worker monitoring, vehicle and asset tracking, approved and accredited training.
