Heather Millgate
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Heather Mary Millgate, a trained solicitor, was a director of private security company Global Open. She was also associated with the private security firm Tokra, set-up by undercover police officer Mark Kennedy.[1]
Contents
Global Open
Director
Ms Heather Millgate was appointed to the board of directors of Global Open on 5 April 2008, where she acted as their solicitor and also provided her marketing expertise. She resigned her directorship of Global Open on 31 August 2008. Heather Millgate and Alison Leeming (a fellow director at Global Open) travelled to biotechnology conferences to promote to "forward intelligence provision" which is the mainstay of Global Open's services. [2] According to The Guardian, Global Open was set up in 2001 by Rod Leeming, a former Special Branch officer. The company keeps a "discreet watch" on protest groups for clients including E.ON.[3]
An article by The Guardian, dealing with the undercover police officer Mark Kennedy reveals information about the private security sector. After leaving the police,
- In February 2010 – a month before resigning – Kennedy set up Tokra Limited, at an address in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Calling himself a logistics officer, Kennedy registered himself as sole director of the company. Intriguingly, the address he used is the work address of Heather Millgate, a solicitor specialising in personal injury, and a former director of Global Open, a private security firm.
- In February last year, Millgate went from being a marketing manager to a director of Global Open. On 31 March, Tokra changed its address from Millgate's work address to one in Basingstoke. On 12 April, Kennedy applied for Tokra to be dissolved. Within a few days of that application, he resigned from the police. Tokra was finally dissolved on the 17 August. On 31 August, Millgate resigned as director of Global Open.[3]
Controversy
Global Open first came to public attention in 2007 when it was implicated in the case of Paul Mercer, a friend of the then Conservative shadow defence minister, Julian Lewis, who was exposed by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade of spying for the arms firm BAE.[3] [4]
Subsequent Companies
Private Security Firm Tokra
Tokra was set-up by undercover officer Mark Kennedy (aka Mark Stone). The public debate generated by his uncovering as a police spy has been further complicated by his involvement with the private security sector. Tokra is linked to Global Open, whose client list features energy company E.ON.
Tokra Ltd, established 09/02/2010, was registered to Millgate's current business address:
36 Orchard Drive Linslade Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 2PL[2]
On 13/03/2010, the address was changed to:
Tokra Ltd Suite 2029 6, Slington House Rannkine Road Basingstoke RG24 8PH[2]
Tokra Ltd was wound up on 17/08/2010.[2]
Solicitors' practice
Ms Millgate since established a LLP with another solicitor, Ms Barbara Woodridge.[2] The company Millgate Woodbridge Ltd No.07261650 is registered to:
11 Jacques Lane
Clophill
Bedfordshire
MK45 4BS[5]
The company was registered on 21/05/2010 and its website on 28/12/2009, www.millgates.com [6] However, although the company still carries her name, as of May 2014, Millgate was no longer a director of this company,[7] and, her details were removed from their website.[8]
Biography
Millgate qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and specialises in all types of personal injury claims. She has a particularly keen interest in head/brain injury. She is associated with Headway, the National Brain Injury charity.[6]
Contact
- Millgates
- 36 Orchard Drive
- Linslade
- Leighton Buzzard
- Bedfordshire LU7 2PL
- Telephone: 01525 864820
- Fax: 0845 5280595
- Email: heather.millgate@millgates.com
- website: http://millgates.com/Default.aspx[6]
Notes
- ↑ Rob Evans, Amelia Hill, Paul Lewis and Patrick Kingsley Mark Kennedy: secret policeman's sideline as corporate spy The Guardian, 13/01/11, accessed 17/01/11
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Campaigns Security Following the paper trail 16/01/11, accessed 17/01/11
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rob Evans, Amelia Hill, Paul Lewis and Patrick Kingsley Mark Kennedy: secret policeman's sideline as corporate spy The Guardian, 13/01/11, accessed 17/ 01/11
- ↑ Legal briefing, CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMS TRADE v PAUL MERCER & LIGNEDEUX ASSOCIATES, Leigh Day & Co. 18 April 2007.
- ↑ Companies House, Millgate Woodbridge Limited
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Home, Millgates Solicitors' Website, accessed 17 January 2011.
- ↑ Millgate Woodbridge Ltd, CompanyCheck.co.uk, accessed 8 December 2014.
- ↑ About Us, Millgates Solicitors' Website, accessed 17 January 2011.
