9/11 security company's reputation recovers

Chief executive of Securicor PLC, Nick Buckles, has said he believes the group's key markets should pick up in the second half of 2004 even though current trading has remained difficult.

Buckles was conducting a telephone interview AFX News and said tough trading conditions are likely to persist in the coming months.

He said that the group's US business had now stabilised and what he described as "reputational damage" was now behind them.

Securicor's US unit, Argenbright, was responsible for passenger checkpoint security screening for two of the flights involved in the September 11 terror strike.

Buckles said the group is confident turnover should sustain growth in the coming year, mirroring the 5% organic growth it reported in 2003.