Crime fear a booster for Chubb

SECURITY group Chubb is seeing buoyant demand for its residential alarm systems on the back of fears over rising crime in Britain.

There has also been 'an extremely good' response to trials of its new CabWatch system being tested in 1,000 London black cabs. It is a monitored camera and panic alarm system linked to police response and the group expects good demand when the system goes on sale.

In its first full-year results since demerging from Williams, Chubb today posted profits for the year to end-December up 5% at £113.1m before tax and exceptional items, on turnover 9% ahead at £1.bn. The dividend total is 2.25p.

Chief executive Robert Gasparini said he expected further good progress in the current year, with the security services market proving its resilience to economic downturns.

Chubb spent just over £200m on acquisitions last year and more will be made this year. Its US hotel locks business, Tesa, is showing signs of recovery after a big drop in demand following 11 September.