Shercurity, the security division of the UK’s leading High Court enforcement agency, has been awarded Approved Contractor Status by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Shercurity, which specialises in the guarding of high risk sites targeted by squatters, protestors, eco-warriors and travellers, met the standards of all 89 criteria following an inspection by an assessor.

Operations Officer for Shercurity and Shergroup, Alan Smith, said: “Approved Contractor Status from the SIA demonstrates we operate to exceptionally high standards and gives our clients confidence in the incomparable levels of service we deliver.”

Shercurity was launched in 2006 to support Sherbond, a division of Shergroup, whose High Court enforcement officers act upon a warrant of possession to remove unwanted visitors from high risk sites such as power station or vacant property and land owned by organisations such as local authorities and developers.

Once the trespassers have been removed, the team from Shercurity remains on site to secure the premises and prevent intruders from returning, as well as provide 24-hour manned guarding or put up shutters or perimeter fencing.

Since its launch, Shercurity has grown to a £3.5million turnover with 80 security guards on its books across the UK. Most have military backgrounds and all are licensed by the SIA, with most holding close protection licences. The company also adheres to British Standards BS7499 covering the management, staffing and operation of security guarding and BS7858 which deals with the vetting of guards.

As part of Shergroup, the company’s history as Sheriffs dates to around 1780. It was formerly known as Burchell and Ruston and is the sixth oldest law firm in the country.

Owned by Claire Sandbrook, the Chairman of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association, Shergroup believes passionately in raising standards across the security and enforcement professions.

Mrs Sandbrook said: “Shercurity’s services are unique in that officers are dual trained for both security and enforcement roles. The combination of enforcement and security services, backed by Shergroup’s reputation and 50 years plus of combined senior officer experience in handling protest sites and the protestors themselves, gives us the scope to handle large scale, high profile protest sites with a significant depth of experience.”

“Our teams work confidently with supporting agencies such as police officers, other emergency services, the Health & Safety Executive and other professionals to enable any site to be cleared safely and professionally and then to be secured to prevent further incursion. Our new accreditation acknowledges the high level of skills and services for which Shercurity has become renowned.”