Safer Scotland teams up with Frank Macfadden
James Thorpe
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Safer Scotland, the technology-based company which is making significant inroads into the security industry, has joined forces with one of the country’s leading experts on CCTV, alarms, public space and response strategies.
The fast-growing start-up – it was established only in 2016 – has attracted the consultancy services of Frank Macfadden who, in a long and distinguished career, has operated at the upper levels of both local and national government.
Mr. Macfadden, 66, from Glasgow, was responsible for advising the Scottish Executive on public space CCTV in a paper entitled, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Public Space CCTV, in which he made more than 50 recommendations to improve the sustainability and usefulness of these systems.
He is now working directly with Safer Scotland Director, Ryan Clark in a full-time role in which he will offer advice, support, contacts and business direction as well as partnering and developing the security platform.
He said: “I am delighted to be working with a company which is at the forefront of the use of technology to revolutionise the way the security sector operates and the way in which it interacts with its client base.
“I will be on hand to offer both short-term and long-term operational and strategic advice to Ryan and his team, who are changing the way people think about security through intelligent and innovative use of the latest technological developments.”
Ryan Clark said: “The whole team at Safer Scotland is delighted to be working with Frank, who has written the book on effective security systems and their deterrent effect over the course of decades of practical application across Scotland.”
Mr. Macfadden, who started work as an office junior with the then Glasgow Corporation in 1970, rose to become Head of Corporate Services at Glasgow Council and then took on “strategic security” policy development, consolidating security needs across departments and creating a security structure for the CCTV systems in the streets of Glasgow.
He established and became Chief Executive of Streetwatch Glasgow, a coordinated partnership between the police and the council which operated 400 cameras monitored 24/7 by a pool of 40 staff. This independent company was later merged into Community Safety Glasgow.
He subsequently worked for five years as General Security Manager for Edinburgh City Council and over the past six years has been working as a Consultant developing control rooms and in-house, integrated security solutions for local authorities and other partners across Scotland.
Mr. Macfadden has already been instrumental in recruiting new key staff for Safer Scotland, including a finance manager and security engineers. He is also working directly with clients and assisting the company in meeting its statutory obligations.
His appointment is the latest coup for the company, which recently has moved into new offices at the prestigious Abbey Mill Business Centre in Paisley which have the potential for further expansion. The company has achieved a successful run of contract wins which will push Safer Scotland’s turnover to in excess of £1.6 million, up by 50% on this year.
Safer Scotland has created a niche in a competitive business environment by its emphasis on reliable, responsive technologies which allow corporate clients to secure high value assets in remote or temporary locations. It is expanding this year into the North of England.
The company also provides security guards, event security, door supervisors, key holding and other security and consultancy services.
