C2i International
C2i International is the "UK's premier 'special risk management' and investigation company"[1]
Contents
Background
- Security firms that offer spying services are very reserved when it comes to describing their products and C2i International is no exception. The company describes itself as a "special risk management" business, a common euphemism in its trade. C2i was founded by Justin King who, according to the company's website, was a helicopter pilot in the special forces, and is trained to "British police special operations standards" in surveillance and counter-espionage. From its offices a few hundred metres from Oxford Street in London's West End, the firm offers services in "business protection". However, the Plane Stupid incident is unlikely to join the list of case studies on its website. Examples of C2i's work include providing round-the-clock protection to a foreign company working in Russia and upgrading personal security for the president of a Mexican bank. The company claims it works closely with clients to understand their "unique threatscape" and that the security firm has experience of protecting aviation businesses from external threats. C2i also lists the aerospace industry as one of the industries that has benefited from its expertise in the past.[2]
Infiltration attempts rebutted
Plane Stupid and Toby Kendall
Toby Kendall, working for C2i International, posed as "Ken Tobias" in an attempt to infiltrate Plane Stupid. Activists became suspicious of him as he appeared so eager to take part in direct action. His true identity was discovered on a social networking website, Bebo. Headlines reported ‘More Austin Powers than 007’.[3]
c2i's founder, Justin King, claims to be an expert in surveillance and counter-espionage who has flown helicopters for the special forces. C2i has said Kendall was operating on his own.[4]
Energy companies exposed hiring private security firm Vericola
The energy giant E.ON, Britain's second-biggest coal producer Scottish Resources Group and Scottish Power, one of the UK's largest electricity-generators, have been paying for the services of a private security firm that has been secretly monitoring activists, revealed Indymedia. A statement on Indymedia claims Rebecca Todd is a former employee of C2i International, a private security and intelligence gathering firm best known for their employment of Toby Kendall / Ken Tobias who attempted to infiltrate Plane Stupid. She has since struck out on her own to set up her own company, Vericola Ltd.[5] It was at C2i that Todd appears to have learned her trade before setting up Vericola in 2008, claims The Guardian. Todd's lawyers declined to comment on whether she had worked for C2i, but she is listed by a professional association as being employed the company. They denied Vericola conducts corporate spying or "infiltration", saying instead that Todd gathers information from publicly available sources such as mailing lists or open websites. "Our client has not obtained any confidential information nor has she been guilty of any dishonesty," they said.</ref name="Rob Evans"> However, both Indymedia and The Guardian claim to have evidence with demonstrates that Vericola agents were attending activist meetings in person.[5]
Contact, References and Resources
Contact
- 21 Berners Street
- London W1T 3LP
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7323 6630
- Fax: +44 (0)20 7323 6635
- Website: www.c2i-international.com
Resources
References
- ↑ John Vidal and Dan Milmo, Mystery over who hired mole to dig dirt on Plane Stupid's environment activists, Guardian, 9 April 2008
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ben Webster, Spy caught by anti-aviation group was ‘more Austin Powers than 007’, The Times, 08/04/08, accessed 14/02/11
- ↑ Paul Lewis and Rob Evans Green groups targeted polluters as corporate agents hid in their ranksThe Guardian, 14/02/11, accessed 14/02/11
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Indymedia UK Spying company, Vericola Ltd, uncovered after incompetence,Indymedia website, 14/02/11, accessed 25/02/11
