Sunderland security firm tasked with football club's safety hits big league

The firm charged with keeping Sunderland football club's sites safe has been promoted to the Premier League of security companies.
Back row (from left) Steadfast Security managing director Michael Harbord, Vito Mannone, Jack Rodwell, Duncan Watmore, Steadfasts Steve Hill Front row (from left) Steadfast managing director Dave Watson and directors Paul Harbord and Ian Harbord.Back row (from left) Steadfast Security managing director Michael Harbord, Vito Mannone, Jack Rodwell, Duncan Watmore, Steadfasts Steve Hill Front row (from left) Steadfast managing director Dave Watson and directors Paul Harbord and Ian Harbord.
Back row (from left) Steadfast Security managing director Michael Harbord, Vito Mannone, Jack Rodwell, Duncan Watmore, Steadfasts Steve Hill Front row (from left) Steadfast managing director Dave Watson and directors Paul Harbord and Ian Harbord.

The Peterlee-based Steadfast Group has been ranked in the top 50 security companies in the UK for the first time.

Steadfast, which this year took charge of security at SAFC’s sites, was given the ranking by The Security Industry Authority - the Government watchdog which carries out site visits and a series of stringent tests of security companies.

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Managing director Michael Harbord said: “We are thrilled by this latest result, it is credit to everyone involved in the company.

“The main thing is to earn the SIA certificate in the first place, because that’s the documentation all security companies should have.

“But once you achieve it, the SIA goes on to give you points totals which show where you stand in its rankings.

“For us to break into the top 100 security companies a couple of years ago and this year the top 50 is fantastic for us and shows we’re getting bigger and better all the time.

“But we don’t want to stop there.

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“The incentive now is to keep on improving and the quality of our SIA assessment can only help contribute to that because the tests are so thorough and rigorous and set the benchmark in our industry.

“Before any company considers security at their premises - manned or electronic - it is always worth them checking their contractors are SIA compliant and if they are SIA approved contractors, all the better.”

Founded two decades ago, the firm only broke into the top 100 on its previous inspection but now has a nationwide reach.

The SIA is a UK-wide independent body reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Awards Act 2001.

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It has two main duties - the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

SIA licensing covers manned guarding (including security guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, and public space surveillance using CCTV), key holding and vehicle immobilising.