Croma Security

Croma Security is the trading identity associated with Croma Security Solutions Group PLC, a United Kingdom holding company formed around a portfolio of security businesses. The group provides a broad range of physical, electronic and specialist security services rather than operating as a single-product security brand. Its activities include locksmithing, key cutting, locks and safes, access control, CCTV, intruder and fire alarms, revenue parking, biometric identification, manned guarding, keyholding, close protection, private investigation and covert surveillance. The group’s roots lie in County Locksmiths Security Ltd, founded by Fernando Fiorentino in Southampton on 18 February 1970. The original business operated from a locksmith shop on Shirley Road and provided key cutting, lock installation, lock replacement and emergency call-outs. Fernando’s son Roberto joined the business in 1981 and subsequently expanded the locksmith operation. In 1989, Roberto established County Access Systems, later developed into County Security Systems and CSS Total Security, to provide electronic security systems including access control and CCTV. This created the foundation for the group’s later integrated-security model. During the 1990s and 2000s, the electronic-security business pursued remote CCTV monitoring, mobile-data access to cameras, biometric identification and video analytics. It also expanded into revenue parking and widened its geographical reach beyond the South Coast. The acquisition of Alarm Bell Ltd added fire-alarm and safety systems, while the development of relationships with the Croma Group businesses Vigilant Security Services and Photobase broadened the offering to include guarding, close protection, keyholding and biometric technologies. Arlo Parking Ltd also became part of the wider CSS Group structure. A major corporate turning point came in June 2012, when Croma Group PLC and the CSS Group combined through a reverse acquisition and flotation on the AIM market. The resulting Croma Security Solutions Group PLC adopted a strategy of presenting a more comprehensive, turnkey security proposition for domestic customers, corporate clients, high-net-worth individuals and major organisations. Its customer base has included public-sector bodies, large companies and other blue-chip organisations. The group’s principal operating divisions have included Croma Locksmiths, Croma Biometrics, Croma Vigilant and Croma Security Systems. Croma Locksmiths supplies and maintains locks, keys, safes, door hardware and related access products through outlets and service operations concentrated along the South Coast, with additional locations elsewhere in Britain. Croma Biometrics has focused on FastVein, a vein-recognition system developed with Hitachi, together with identity management, access control and time-and-attendance applications. Croma Vigilant provides guarding, asset protection, investigations, keyholding, close protection and surveillance, while Croma Security Systems designs, installs and maintains integrated CCTV, alarm, fire, access-control and parking systems. In December 2015, the group acquired Access Locksmiths Ltd, trading as Access Key & Lock. The acquisition added a locksmith operation and its employees to the existing locksmith division, and Mark Whettingsteel joined the board while taking responsibility for the enlarged division. The group has also reported offices in London, Dumfries and Abu Dhabi, locksmith outlets across southern England and operations covering much of the United Kingdom, with some work in the Middle East. Reference material describes a workforce of more than 750 people across the subsidiaries, including security officers, locksmiths, engineers and specialist personnel. Croma Security’s positioning is therefore based on breadth and integration: it seeks to combine manned and technical security capabilities within one group. Its brand architecture has changed over time as businesses were acquired, combined or presented under Croma-branded divisions. The available reference material does not establish a separate consumer website or a current detailed corporate strategy beyond this integrated-security model.

Croma Security’s history begins with County Locksmiths Security Ltd, established by Fernando Fiorentino in Southampton on 18 February 1970. Fiorentino had learned locksmithing from his father in Tripoli, Libya. The initial shop on Shirley Road provided conventional locksmith services: key cutting, lock installation and replacement, and emergency assistance. The business later developed several branches in the Southampton area. Roberto Fiorentino, Fernando’s first son, joined the business in 1981. He learned the trade while helping expand County Locksmiths from a single shop into a multi-branch operation. In the same period, the Shirley premises moved to a different address, which remained associated with the locksmith division for many years. In 1989 Roberto founded County Access Systems Ltd. The company initially concentrated on electronic security, including access-control and CCTV systems. It later became County Security Systems and then CSS Total Security Ltd. Although it developed as a separate electronic-security business, it worked closely with the locksmith operation and shared premises during part of its early development. In the early 1990s, the company explored remote CCTV viewing over telephone connections. Roberto acquired County Locksmiths from his father in 1997, bringing the locksmith and electronic-security activities under related ownership. During the first years of the new millennium, CSS pursued remote camera access over mobile-data connections and began installing biometric technologies such as iris and fingerprint systems. In 2003 it partnered with Cieffe to investigate video analytics for advanced CCTV installations. Revenue parking became another business area in 2007, generating larger contracts and extending the group’s technical-services portfolio. In 2010 the company expanded into Scotland through a new office. CSS acquired Alarm Bell Ltd in 2011. This added fire alarms and safety systems to the group’s capabilities. Around the same period, CSS developed close business relationships with Croma Group PLC businesses including Vigilant Security Services and Photobase Ltd. These relationships enabled the wider group to offer manned guarding, keyholding, close protection, investigation and additional biometric services. Photobase was associated with the development of FastVein, a vein-recognition hardware and software system. Following the Alarm Bell and Arlo Parking acquisitions, the related locksmith and electronic-security businesses were presented as the CSS Group. The principal corporate transformation occurred in June 2012, when Croma Group PLC and CSS Group completed a reverse acquisition and flotation on the AIM market. The transaction produced Croma Security Solutions Group PLC, also referred to as CSS Group PLC or Croma Security. Sebastian Morley became chairman and Roberto Fiorentino became chief executive. The combined company promoted a total-security model designed to provide coordinated technical, physical and specialist protection services. The group subsequently operated through several divisions. Croma Locksmiths combined CSS Locksmiths with the later-acquired Access Key & Lock business. Croma Biometrics focused on FastVein, identity management, access control and time-and-attendance applications. Croma Vigilant represented the guarding, keyholding, close-protection, investigation and covert-surveillance activities associated with Vigilant Security Services. Croma Security Systems handled the design, installation, maintenance and servicing of CCTV, intruder alarms, fire alarms, access control and revenue-parking systems. FastVein was used at the London 2012 Olympic Games and in a number of United Kingdom prisons for enrolment, visitor control and related identification functions. In October 2015, Croma Biometrics announced FastVein T&A, a web-accessible time-and-attendance product. Later that year, press reports described potential education-sector applications involving pupil attendance, authorised leave, return monitoring and emergency registers. On 9 December 2015, Croma Security Solutions Group formally announced its acquisition of Access Locksmiths Ltd, trading as Access Key & Lock. The acquired business had been founded and owned by former County Locksmiths employee Mark Whettingsteel. He joined the board as an executive director and became managing director of the enlarged locksmith and security-solutions division. The transaction added the acquired workforce to the group’s existing staff and strengthened its regional locksmith network. The group has been based at Solent Business Park in Whiteley, Hampshire, with additional offices reported in London, Dumfries and Abu Dhabi. Its locksmith operations have included numerous South Coast outlets, while engineering and security contracts have extended across much of the United Kingdom. The available reference material describes a workforce exceeding 750 people across the subsidiaries and a customer base ranging from household and local-business clients to public bodies, FTSE 100 companies and other blue-chip organisations.

• 2015

  FastVein T&A launched

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Croma Biometrics announced a web-based biometric time-and-attendance offering based on FastVein.

• 2015

  Access Key & Lock acquired

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Croma Security Solutions Group acquired Access Locksmiths Ltd, trading as Access Key & Lock, strengthening its locksmith division.

• 2012

  Reverse acquisition and AIM flotation

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Croma Group PLC and CSS Group combined through a reverse acquisition and flotation on AIM, forming Croma Security Solutions Group PLC.

• 2012

  FastVein used at the London Olympic Games

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s FastVein biometric technology was used in connection with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

• 2011

  Alarm Bell acquisition

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  CSS acquired Alarm Bell Ltd, adding fire-alarm and safety-system capabilities.

• 2010

  Expansion into Scotland

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  CSS opened a Scottish office, extending its operating footprint beyond southern England.

• 2007

  Revenue parking added

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Revenue parking became an additional area of operation and brought larger contracts to the electronic-security business.

• 2003

  Video-analytics partnership

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  CSS partnered with Cieffe to investigate and provide video analytics for high-specification CCTV systems.

• 1997

  Roberto Fiorentino acquires County Locksmiths

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Fiorentino purchased County Locksmiths from his father, consolidating control of the locksmithing foundation of the later group.

• 1989

  County Access Systems established

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Roberto Fiorentino founded County Access Systems, the predecessor of the group’s CSS electronic-security operations.

• 1981

  Roberto Fiorentino joins the family locksmith business

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Roberto Fiorentino joined County Locksmiths and helped expand it into several Southampton-area branches.

• 1970

  County Locksmiths Security founded

  [1]Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Fernando Fiorentino founded County Locksmiths Security Ltd in Southampton, establishing the locksmithing business that later formed part of Croma Security’s foundations.

An integrated security-services group serving domestic customers, public-sector organisations, major corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals through a combination of locksmithing, electronic security, biometrics and specialist protection services.

• Locksmithing and physical access

  Croma Locksmiths

  The locksmith division supplies, installs and maintains locks, keys, safes, door furniture and other access hardware. It also provides emergency call-outs for domestic and commercial customers through a geographically distributed branch and service network, particularly along the South Coast of England.

• Biometric identification

  FastVein

  FastVein is a vein-recognition hardware and software platform associated with Croma Biometrics and developed with Hitachi. Its applications have included identity management, access control, prison enrolment and visitor control, as well as time-and-attendance recording.

• Biometric time and attendance · 2015

  FastVein T&A

  FastVein T&A is a web-based time-and-attendance solution announced in 2015. It was designed to use biometric identification instead of conventional cards or tokens and to make attendance information available through internet-enabled devices.

• Electronic security

  Croma Security Systems

  This division provides consultation, design, supply, installation, maintenance and servicing for integrated CCTV, intruder alarms, fire alarms, access control and revenue-parking systems. Its work combines engineering resources with security monitoring and site-specific system design.

• Guarding and asset protection

  Croma Vigilant

  Croma Vigilant covers manned guarding, keyholding, close protection, private investigation, covert surveillance and other asset-protection services. The division is associated with Vigilant Security Services and has promoted a strong former-service personnel ethos.

• 2015

  Acquire Access Locksmiths LtdM&A

  Background

  Access Locksmiths Ltd, trading as Access Key & Lock, was a locksmith business founded and owned by former County Locksmiths employee Mark Whettingsteel.

  Action taken

  Croma Security Solutions Group acquired the company and incorporated it into the Croma Locksmiths and Security Solutions division.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded the locksmith network and brought the acquired employees into the group. Mark Whettingsteel joined the board as an executive director and became managing director of the enlarged division.

  Pre-acquisition turnover. GBP 2.4 million (Financial year preceding the 2015 acquisition)

  Source

• 2015

  Launch FastVein T&AProduct launch

  Background

  Croma Biometrics had developed FastVein as a biometric identity platform and sought applications beyond access control and institutional identification.

  Action taken

  The division announced a web-based time-and-attendance product using FastVein biometric recognition.

  Aftermath

  The technology was subsequently discussed in relation to education, including attendance, authorised absence and emergency-register functions.

  Source

• 2012

  Combine Croma Group PLC and CSS Group through a reverse acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Croma Group PLC and CSS Group operated complementary security businesses, including guarding, biometrics, locksmithing and electronic security.

  Action taken

  The companies combined through a reverse acquisition and flotation on the AIM market, creating Croma Security Solutions Group PLC and a wider integrated-security group.

  Aftermath

  The resulting company presented itself as a provider of comprehensive security services for corporate, public-sector, domestic and high-net-worth customers.

  Source

1. 1Croma Securityen.wikipedia.org