Betting Analyst and Security Appointments
Published: 13 October 2004
The Jockey Club confirmed today the final appointments in the expansion of the Security Department, following the recommendations of the joint Jockey Club / BHB Security Review, published last year.
Mark Phillips, who is 32 and was formerly employed with an internet based fixed odds betting firm, has been appointed to the key post of Betting Analyst. He will be responsible for:
• providing intelligence and evidence to support investigations;
• investigating suspicious betting irregularities;
• providing expert advice to investigators on all betting issues;
• becoming part of the investigation team in major cases; and
• keeping abreast of all developments in the betting industry
An additional appointment has also been made to increase the analytical capacity in the Department with the recruitment of Tom Chignell. Tom, 23, has been appointed in a new analyst/researcher post to work within the Intelligence Unit. Tom previously worked at the Tote in Wigan and has extensive knowledge of the betting industry. He was also a delegate on a previous BHB Graduate Development programme.
The Jockey Club’s Director of Security, Paul Scotney said: “The Betting Analyst role is a crucial post for the Department and whilst the recruitment process took longer than we originally anticipated, our objective was to ensure we got the right person. With the increase in our workload, much of which has resulted from our collaboration with the betting industry, there has been a need to further increase our analytical capability.”
“With these new appointments we now have the capacity to be more proactive. The department will continue to improve its intelligence structures and processes and I am confident that this will greatly assist us in our efforts to not only detect but also to deter threats to the integrity of the sport.”
Another of the Security Review Group’s recommendations was the need for a computerised database system for the Department that would electronically store intelligence records. An intelligence management system from software specialists Memex was chosen because it fitted all the requirements the ability for searches to be carried out across a wide range of data. Yogita Popat, the Jockey Club’s intelligence unit manager said: “The system will provide a more accessible and effective way of managing intelligence and investigations It should be fully operational shortly.”
Since taking up his appointment as Director of Security in November last year, Paul Scotney has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of Review’s recommendations. Some of the recommendations, such as those relating to the establishment of a central intelligence unit and increased IT resources, required the appointment of new staff and the purchase of a suitable information database.
13th October 2004
Notes for Editors:
1. The Security Review Group, which was jointly sponsored by The Jockey Club and British Horseracing Board, reported on 1st July 2003.
2. The Report contained 36 Recommendations to enhance the integrity of British horseracing and the ability of the Jockey Club Security Department to respond to such issues.
3. The Report, whilst acknowledging the experience and expertise of Security Department staff, made various recommendations to improve the effectiveness, culture, openness and administration of the Security Department. These included additional staff resources for the central intelligence cell at Jockey Club Headquarters and a significant improvement in its use of information technology.
