Security
Security in North America is managed through the Group Security function supported by specialist security personnel in North America. They work together to direct our Security Strategy and deliver real improvements on the ground. The security programme focuses on passengers, staff and property.
We have to manage a range of security risks including terrorism and crime. We have taken a number of steps to mitigate these risks which include:
- the development of relationships with key government agencies;
- the training of operational front-line staff in incident management and response;
- the improvement of protective security e.g. alarm systems; and
- the introduction of improved incident reporting systems.
This work is being applied in all of our North American operating companies.
In First Student, where we carry over one million children to and from school every day, we have prioritised the delivery of specialist security-related training for over 20,000 school bus drivers and taught them how to:
- be more security aware;
- report security concerns;
- respond to security incidents; and
- deal effectively with everyday incidents, e.g. bullying.
The training programme will be rolled out to our other businesses in the coming year.
In addition to these measures we are continuing to review our background checking processes for staff. Our aim is to ensure we only employ people who are truly suitable for the job they fulfil. We constantly apply lessons learned and have already introduced some significant enhancements. We seek to lead the industry in this area and continue to add further layers of protection to our pre-employment screening.