Security stepped up for senior RBS staff

Published on Wednesday 25 March 2009 21:12

ROYAL Bank of Scotland is stepping up security for its current and former senior executives after vandals attacked the Edinburgh home of its disgraced former boss, Sir Fred Goodwin, The Scotsman can reveal.

Several windows were smashed at Sir Fred's home in upmarket Grange, and a dark-coloured Mercedes S600 saloon parked in the driveway was also attacked.

A group using the e-mail name "bankbossesarecriminals" claimed responsibility and warned: "This is just the beginning."

RBS launched an urgent review in the wake of the incident that police said they were treating "very seriously".

The bank is thought to be stepping up security dramatically for its senior officials and major buildings across the UK, including its global headquarters at Gogarburn, near Edinburgh Airport.

The vandalism, which was condemned as "deplorable" by business leaders, came as the authorities in London prepare for anti-capitalist demonstrations coinciding with next week's G20 summit of world leaders.

Flyers entitled "Storm the Banks" have been circulating on the internet for weeks. Organisers of the planned London protests said effigies of bankers, including Sir Fred, would be hung from lampposts around the city centre.

Sir Fred's local MSP suggested the shamed banker had probably brought the vandalism attack on himself by refusing to back down over his bumper pension pot, and said people were "right to feel aggrieved".

Sympathy was also in short supply among Sir Fred's neighbours in the well-heeled district, with several saying it was "no surprise" that his home had come under attack.

RBS refused to spell out yesterday what security measures it was taking, but one source said: "The safety and security of our staff is obviously of the utmost importance."

Insiders at the bank said that "robust" security procedures were already in place, but these would be stepped up following the attack on Sir Fred's house and the e-mail warning.

Other major financial institutions are also thought to be reviewing security measures, although Lothian and Borders Police insisted it had not advised businesses to step up security following the threat.

HBOS and Lloyds refused to comment in the wake of yesterday's incident.

However, experts said it was "almost certain" that security was being stepped up for senior banking figures.

Analysts said it had been obvious for several weeks that there was an increasing risk of Sir Fred being attacked, but they dismissed fears that bank chiefs across the country could be in similar danger.

Clive Fairweather, a former SAS commander who is now a security adviser, said: "I suspect the people responsible for this are not a huge organisation and merely a small collection of individuals.

"I have no doubt they may well have other targets in mind, but they are most likely waiting to see the reaction to what they've done to Sir Fred's house.

"They clearly see themselves as some kind of vigilantes, who feel their actions are in keeping with the public mood."

Another analyst, David Everett, said the former RBS chief executive might need round-the-clock security and personal bodyguards for years, due to the hostile reaction to his 703,000-a-year pension pay-off.

He told The Scotsman: "You could be talking about the kind of security that some MPs and members of the Royal Family have.

"At the moment, Sir Fred Goodwin has basically gone into hiding, and it's very much like what happened to Salman Rushdie."

Mike Pringle, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh South, includ ing the Grange, said many people would believe Sir Fred was to blame for the incident at his home. "If he had been prepared to be a bit more conciliatory and had been prepared to negotiate over his pension arrangements, then perhaps this would not have happened," he said.

"He has perhaps brought it on himself. There is a perception it is his own fault," Mr Pringle added. "People have lost an absolute fortune on their savings, and they quite rightly feel very aggrieved. It is, however, wrong that his home should be targeted for attack. He and his family have the right to live without the fear of violence."

One neighbour who lives across the street from Sir Fred, but who asked not to be named, said: "I didn't hear anything. The first I knew of it was when I was shaving this morning and heard it on the radio.

"I came out to make sure that my house wasn't damaged, too. Luckily, we were fine. I have been expecting something like this to happen for a while now, so I'm not surprised."

A passer-by said: "You will not get much sympathy around here after what he did to RBS. People wouldn't be bothered if the whole house burned down."

Asked about the attack on Sir Fred's house and whether the Prime Minister had any sympathy for the former RBS chief executive, Gordon Brown's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister believes that there is no excuse for people breaking the law."

Nigel Griffiths, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, whose area includes the Grange, told The Scotsman: "It's an absolute disgrace. There is no excuse for anyone resorting to violence against property and against his family home.

"No amount of frustration or anger justifies this. I hope that the police are able to track down and apprehend the culprits."

Mr Griffiths said he believed the "witch hunt" against Sir Fred had probably contributed to the attack. He said: "People are justly angry about paying large sums to those who presided over the collapse of this bank, but it's simply not the Scottish way to translate this anger into crass vandalism."

Ron Hewitt, the chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "I suspect there won't be much sympathy for Sir Fred Goodwin, but no matter what you think of him, this kind of action is deplorable."

MYSTERY OVER ATTACK GROUP

IT WAS unclear last night who was responsible for the attack on Sir Fred's property, even though an announcement was made within minutes of the vandals striking.

While an e-mail was sent from the address bankbossesarecriminals@ mail.com, there was no further announcement.

However, the group, which has no record of previous acts, appeared to be well- organised in alerting news outlets with what appeared to be a pre-prepared press release.

Sir Fred was believed to have been out of the country when the windows of his mansion and a black Mercedes parked in the driveway were smashed at about 4:30am. Neighbours said the property had been empty for several weeks, although it is monitored by CCTV cameras. An alarm system being triggered alerted police, who raced to the scene.

Within 30 minutes, the group had announced the attacks. Its statement read: "Fred Goodwins (sic] house … was attacked this morning. We are angry that rich people, like him, are paying themselves a huge amount of money, and living in luxury, while ordinary people are made unemployed, destitute and homeless. This is a crime. Bank bosses should be jailed. This is just the beginning."

Police said: "We are aware an organisation claiming to be responsible for the vandalism had made contact with media outlets and this also forms part of our inquiry. The force takes very seriously any planned attack on any individual or their property."