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(Alliance News) - Westminster Group PLC shares jumped on Friday after it said its Technology division has won a contract to provide a mass entry screening solution to an unnamed "iconic building" in the UK.
Westminster is a London-based provider of security services for sensitive places such as ports, airports and commercial buildings. Its shares were up 17% to 1.38 pence each in London on Friday morning.
Westminster said that the unnamed organisation is taking steps to increase security arrangements in preparation for the forthcoming Protect Duty legislation. This is expected to come into force in the UK laster this year and it sets out standards to protect the public from terrorist attacks in publicly accessible locations.
"Whilst the security of venues is building specific and is likely to involve a number of different measures, the challenge many organisations face is how to effectively screen large numbers of visitors entering a facility for mass casualty threats, without creating delays or bottlenecks," the company explained.
Westminster's mass screening solution addresses this issue, it said, as it allows the screening of a large number of people entering an event or venue without slowing the natural flow. This also improves security and visitor experience.
The contract, valued at over GBP100,000, is to commence immediately and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, Westminster said.
Chief Executive Officer Peter Fowler said: "In our recent interim report, I stated the Home Office estimates that 650,000 UK businesses could be affected by the Protect Duty legislation and that Westminster's expertise and portfolio of products and services are well placed to assist businesses and organisations prepare and improve their security accordingly.
"I am delighted therefore that Westminster has been selected for this prestigious contract, which was awarded following extensive on-site trials and is just one of a number of similar projects we are currently pursuing," Fowler added.
By Sophie Rose; sophierose@alliancenews.com
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