Anthony Brightwell

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Anthony 'Tony' Brightwell, born 15 January 1949, was a detective with the Metropolitan Police and private investigator specialising in fraud and money laundering. He is noted for his connections with Flying Squad, investigating the Brinks-MAT robbery, and for his managing director role of firms such as Bishop Investigations, ISC Global / RISC Management and CGML.

Police career

In 1983, Brightwell is a Detective Inspector in the Flying Squad (CO8), a unit dedicated to dealing with violent crime, mainly armed robberies.[1][2]

The Brinks-MAT robbery took place on 26 November 1983 near Heathrow when with the help of an insider an armed gang raided a warehouse being used to transfer gold and other valuables.[3] Det. Insp. Anthony Brightwell was among those first on the scene. He was given the responsibility of investigating the robbery[4] and quickly establishes the inside man in the robbery is Peter Black. Brightwell, working with Flying Squad Detective Sergeant Alan Branch gain a confession from him, a key initial break in the case that forms the bases of the subsequent investigation.[5]

Despite the success in putting several of the armed robbers in jail, the recovery of the stolen goods remained a major priority. The investigation focused on the money laundering network, which was thought to includes figures such as Kenneth Noye and John 'Goldfinger' Palmer, the time-share fraudster. This caused the police to extend into issues of fraud.

Closely associated with Brightwell at this time is A/DCI Robert Suckling (of CO11), and several Flying Squad detectives later caught up in police corruption scandals, DI John Redgrave and DC Michael Charman.[5][6] Other colleagues include DC Alan 'Taffy' Holmes (who makes appearance in the Daniel Morgan murder story, and is connected to suspect corrupt officer Commander Ray Adams) and the Flying Squad commander Roy Ramm.[5]

In January 1985, John Fordham, a detective engaged in police surveillance work (and known to Brightwell, Redgrave and Charman[5]) was killed by Kenneth Noye. As a result the investigation gains 200 new officers, and becomes a full blown task force under Detective Chief Superintendent Brian Boyce and noted investigator Detective Superintendent Tony Lundy. They in turn answer to Commander Frank Cater.[7] The taskforce would remain in place until 1995.[8]

In 1985, Lundy sends Brightwell to various countries in pursuit of another of the suspect money-laundering gang, John 'Goldfinger' Fleming - though he does not apprehend him, Fleming subsequently gives himself up. Brightwell also heads up the task-force's intelligence unit in 1985-86.[6]

At some point in his police career, Brightwell serves with the 'company fraud squad'.[9]

Career with intelligence firms

Prior to joining Bishop Investigations, Brightwell served with Maxwell Communications.[9]

Bishop Investigations

Company background

Bishop Investigations was a firm established in 1991 to capitalise on new regulations around money-laundering which sought to keep questionable and black-market money out of the financial system. It was founded by ex-police officer Peter Steger (who had also been employed by Kroll Associates and had previously been with Flying Squad and anti-terrorist branch), and chaired by Bob Bishop for whom it had been named.[9][10] It was also noted that Brightwell brought to the firm links with the F.B.I.[9] Brightwell is appointed as a director of Bishop Investigations in March 1992 and remains there until 2000.

Steger is associated with Bishop Investigations until July 1996, when he is replaced by former HM Customs & Excise officer John William Cassey, someone whom Brightwell will be associated with in subsequent ventures.[11]

The firm was owned by Merrett Holdings, whose membership was made up of Lloyd's underwriters.[9] In December 1999, Bishop was acquired by venture capitalists and is refocused on 'business intelligence work'[12] under US intelligence officer Jeff Katz, and the chairmanship of Paul Lever (a former chairman of Reed and of Lionheart PLC, he had been chair of the authority overseeing the National Crime Squad and National Intelligence Squad). It continues to exist as the Bishop Group.[13]

Brightwell at Bishop Investigations

Company records list him as a 'corporate investigator' at several companies associated with Bishop Investigations (Bishop International Ltd, McBAWH Ltd).[14][15]

Brightwell spoke of Bishop Investigations work as:[16]

We could come in to do a discreet background check into the origins of that money from that subject. This would either allay the banks suspicions or provide evidence that it does in fact look like its coming from drug dealings.

In 1995 he comments on money laundering in the Irish Times follwing a large robbery in Dublin.[17]

It is of note that the focus on money-laundering and fraud would foreshadow his work with ISC Global / RISC Management, and that his successor as managing director of the latter, Cliff Knuckey had previously headed up the Metropolitan Police's Money-Laundering Unit.

Aon Group

Brightwell and Cassey leave Bishop in May 2000. In November 2000 it is announced that Brightwell has taken his team to Aon Group Limited Claims Consultancy, 'a business unit within Aon specialising in claims management and reinsurance asset management services'. Brightwell and four former colleagues from Bishop will form a 'new special investigations section' focusing on 'investigation fraud and money laundering investigations'. He is quoted as saying, 'We wanted to stay focused on insurance.'[12]

ISC Global / RISC Management

ISC Global was a security, risk management and business intelligence company established by Keith Hunter and [[Nigel Brown in 2000, under the auspicious of lawyer Stephen Curtis, who managed the finances of a number of Russian oligarchs connected with the Yukos oil company and Group Menatep.

Brightwell appears as a managing director of ISC Global in September 2003. When ISC Global splits following Curtis' death in 2004, Brightwell remains with the UK part of the operation, which is renamed RISC Management. he remains there until December 2005, when he is succeeded by Clifford Knuckey.[18] However, he remains a director of RISC Insurance Services, a spin off from RISC, until 18 April 2006.[19]

According to Keith Hunter, the role of Brightwell, RISC Management's first managing director, was operational. Hunter would generate business, but it fell to Brightwell to follow it up on a practical level, including allocating it to he appropriate team within the company.[20]

In October 2003, Brightwell appears on the radio programme 'Spy Games'[21] In Autumn 2004, he is listed as a new member of ASIS, the security industry body.[22]

CMGL

In January 2006, insurance services provider CGML announce the formation of a new anti-fraud unit, CGML Corporate Risk Solutions, under one John Halls, but including both Brightwell and Cassey.[23] The unit will:[24]

specialis[e] in the prevention, detection and investigation of business risks including insurance fraud and white collar fraud.

Existing since 1993, CMGL became part of Zurich Financial Services until 2005, when Sovereign Capital Partners LLP and management bought it out. In April 2007 it was acquired by Capita.[25]

Company directorships

For a list of his directorships within the ISC Global / RISC Management group of companies see the RISC-ISC Global company network.

Brightwell has also been director of

  • The Reeves Sports Club Ltd (1 Oct 2006 - 23 Apr 2014)
  • Staines Rugby Football Club Ltd (20 June 2010 - 22 June 2011 & 22 Sept 2013 - 23 Apr 2014)


Bishop group companies

Company Incorporated Address Directors Notes
McBAWH Ltd (03272160)[26][27]

Original name LegendPride Ltd (until 21 Jan 1997), then Bishop Holdings Ltd (until 20 Jan 2000)

31 October 1996

Active until 2001; dissolved 2003.

11 Bristol Gardens, London, W9 2JG

Originally registered to 152 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX (until 12 Nov 1996), then 3 & 4 St Saviour's Wharf, Mill Street, London, SE1 2BE (until 15 June 2001).

Anthony Brightwell (Corporate Investigator) (31 October 1996 - 30 Sept 2002)
John William Cassey (31 October 1996 - 30 Sept 2002)
Graham John Howard (31 October 1996 - 30 Sept 2002)
Simon John Kemp (31 October 1996 - end)
Stephen Murray Mitchell (31 October 1996 - end)
Keith Sawers (31 October 1996 - end)
Bishop International Ltd (02542735)[28] 25 Sept 1990

Still active

3rd Floor, 28 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6TD

Previous addresses: 7th Floor, Hillgate House, 26 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7HW (until 12 Sept 2005)
1 Portland Place, London, W1N 3AA (until 24 Oct 2000)
Number One, Carlisle Avenue, London, EC3N 2ES (until 31 Jan 2000)

Bob Bishop (31 Mar 1992 - 11 June 1997)
Anthony Brightwell (31 Mar 1992 - 23 May 2000)
Peter John Steger (31 Mar 1992 - 9 July 1996)
Graham John Howard (9 July 1996 - 1 Aug 1999)
John William Cassey (9 July 1996 - 23 May 2000)
Paul Ronald Scott Lever (22 July 1997 - current)
Jeffrey Morris Katz (15 Dec 1999 - current); Company secretaries include Allen Harold Darrington (31 Mar 1992 - 30 July 1992)
Grahame Gary Burman (30 July 1992 - 31 Aug 1993)
Simon Paul Spencer (31 Aug 1993 - 30 Sept 1994)
Joanna Abbott (1 Oct 1994 - 1 Mar 2000)
Ian Austen Saunders (1 Mar 2000 - 15 Sept 2000)
Keith Sawers (15 Sept 2000 - 27 Sept 2012)

Currently 100% owned by Bishop Holdings Ltd

Now part of Bishop Group - http://bishop-group.com/ There is also a Bishop International (company number 2974970) of 14 Waterloo Place, London, SW1Y 4AR, of which Jeff Katz is listed as Chief Executive. Darrington was an director of a number of companies associated with Robert Bishop.[29] Burman was involved as a director with Merrett and also the Miller group of companies (associated with Bob Bishop).[30]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/ITN/2000/04/14/T14040029/?v=1 14 April 2000 Story ref: T14040029], ITNSource.com, 14 April 2000 (accessed 25 September 2015)
  2. ↑ For a brief overview see: Flying Squad, Wikipedia, undated (accessed 25 September 2015.
  3. ↑ For a brief outline, see Brink's-MAT robbery, Wikipedia, undated (accessed 25 September 2015.
  4. ↑ 'The Real Cost Of Britain's Biggest Gold Heist', The Sentinel (Stoke), 24 November 2003 (accessed via Nexis)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Wensley Clarkson, The Curse of Brink's-MAT – 25 years of murder & mayhem, 2012, Quercus paperback edition.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Michael Gillard & Laurie Flynn, Untouchables, Bloomsbury Reader, March 2012, pages 69, 199-200 & 307.
  7. ↑ Will Pearson, 'MAKING A KILLING; Solid Gold SAVAGERY: DAY TWO: They'd stolen Pounds 26m in gold - but who'd get to spend it? Part two of our riveting series reveals how the Brink's-Mat robbery sparked a crazy merry-go-round of betrayal, reckless deceit ... and murder', Daily Mail, 30 January 2006.
  8. ↑ James Dennison, 'Review: they carried off an audacious heist, but the Brinks-MAT gang paid the price for it; you're nicked, Goldfinger', Sunday Express, 23 November 2003.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 'Bishop moves in to check', The Sunday Times, 31 March 1991 (accessed via Nexis).
  10. ↑ According to the newspaper article cited, Bishop had come out of retirement to do this, but had previously been noted for his involvement in the Brinks-MAT robbery and the Salem Shipping insurance fraud case. A search indicates that he is the eponymous founder of Robert Bishop & Co, loss adjusters and insurance agents, who had offered £2 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the Brinks-MAT gold. Peter Steger is also referenced in contemporary newspapers report for his efforts to recover the Brink-MAT gold on behalf of the insurers - see John Twomey, 'John 'Goldfinger' Palmer found guilty of timeshare scam that left thousands of people penniless', The Express, 19 May 2001 (accessed via Nexis).
  11. ↑ Vide infra, Companies House records.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bishop moves on in fraud, Post Magazine (Timothy Benn Publishing Ltd), 23 November 2000 (accessed through Nexis).
  13. ↑ Bishop Group, Management Team, Bishop-Group.com, undated (accessed 25 Septemeber 2015).
  14. ↑ Anthony Brightwell 2, CompanyDirectorCheck.com, undated (accessed 25 September 2015).
  15. ↑ Anthony Brightwell, CBetta.com, undated (accessed 2 August 2015).
  16. ↑ 'Boom Time For Investigators; Laws Open Up Banking Market', Thomson's Financial Compliance Watch, 10 May 1991, Vol. 1, No. 18 (accessed via Nexis).
  17. ↑ John McManus, 'Attempt to launder stolen cash likely: Former British detective believes the raiders would have a plan for the stolen money already in place', The Irish Times, 26 January 1995 (accessed via Nexis).
  18. ↑ Keith Hunter, Witness Statement, Litvinenko Inquiry, 5 December 2013 (accessed 25 September 2015).
  19. ↑ RISC Insurance Services Ltd, CompanyCheck.co.uk, undated (accessed 25 September 2015). One of the partners in the company, Reg Moore, an ex-police officer, had previously worked for Bob Bishop at Robert Bishop Loss Adjudsters, and at the Graham Miller Group, of which Bishop had been managing director. A search of Company House records indicates that in the 1990s there was a network of insurance companies around Graham Miller, Robert Bishop and Stephen Merritt (Undercover Research Group, March 2016).
  20. ↑ Keith Hunter, Transcript of Witness Evidence, Litvinenko Inquiry, 16 February 2015 (accessed 25 September 2015).
  21. ↑ This was an episode of the BBC Radio programme 'Shop Talk', broadcast on 14 October 2003. For details see: Shop Talk: Spy Games, BBC Radio 4, 14 October 2003 (accessed 25 September 2015).
  22. ↑ New Members, Newsletter of ASIS International UK Chapter 208, Autumn 2004 (accessed 2 August 2015).
  23. ↑ CMGL launches investigations unit, The Insurance Insider', 13 January 2006 (accessed 2 August 2015).
  24. ↑ CMGL launches Corporate Risk Solutions, RunOff & Restructuring: the journal of legacy re/insurance business, 11 January 2006 (accessed 2 August 2015).
  25. ↑ Capita acquires CMGL Group Limited, Capita Group (press release), 2 April 2007 (accessed 25 September 2015).
  26. ↑ McBawh Ltd, CompanyCheck.co.uk, undated, 4 August 2015).
  27. ↑ McBawh Ltd, CompaniesList.co.uk, undated, 4 August 2015).
  28. ↑ Bishop International Ltd, CompanyCheck.co.uk, undated (accessed 24 September 2015).
  29. ↑ Allen Harold Darrington, CBetta.com, undated (accessed 25 September 2015).
  30. ↑ Grahame Gary Burman 3, CBetta.com, undated (accessed 25 September 2015).
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