Demand for security services up 45%

Indian corporates are spending more on security than ever before. According to industry estimates, the security industry is pegged at Rs 600 crore.

Says Diwan Rahul Nanda, chairman and managing director, Tops Security: "Eleven years ago, when the company started providing security to corporates its turnover was around Rs 40 lakh. Today it has shot up to Rs 145 crore." This is a 45 per cent increase compared with last year which was Rs 102 core.

In the early 90s, provision for security had the lowest priority. Now, apart from conventional threats like armed attacks, sabotage, burglary, companies need security against pilferage of goods as well as data.

Today, Tops Security works with the company right from the shopfloor to the warehouses and corporate offices. The company provides a mix of security systems which include trained personnel and surveillance systems. They have over 4000 clients for whom they secure crores of property.

This year, the company went beyond the realm of providing just corporate security; they launched a new service in Mumbai called the Topsline emergency helpline.

The company has invested Rs 17 crore for the new project and expects to break even within the next six months. It has already 1,40,000 registered members and is confident of increasing it to 5 lakh by 2005.

The emergency helpline services would be extended to metro cities of Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata in the new year.

Tops Security will also set up the first academy dedicated to providing security solutions. Nanda said The International Security Academy (TISA) will offer courses in all types of security ranging from private investigations to forensics.

With a workforce of 30,000 personnel, the company is the second best agency after the Dutch backed, Delhi based Group 4 security agency.