In recent years there has been an increase in the need for a bodyguard in England, this is due to a number of different causes like the media, possible terror threats and the police having to much work to do. Many high profile celebrities hire close protection agents or bodyguards to keep the media away from them at certain times.
The client might want to go for dinner in the west end of London and without the close protection the media would take full advantage and actually make the client feel uncomfortable.
The role of the bodyguard in an incident like this would be to instruct the journalists and paparazzi that they can take photo’s but not get in the way of the client, basically let the client get on with it. It could also be fans who surround the client and are ask for autographs and photo’s to be taken. Without a close protection officer present the fans would literally just take advantage of the situation.
Technology has really given the media extra weapons or tools over the last 10 years or so. the Internet, mobile phones, laptops digital camera’s and wi-fi spots all over the place. This has made it so easy for the paparazzi to get their stories to their editors in no time but it also means they can contact other journalists.
A client could arrive at a classy restaurant and there is one journalist at the venue that gets a pic but by the time the client is ready to leave the venue the journalist has contacted colleagues and there is a sea of journalists now waiting to capture the clients picture. This is when a close protection officer’s planning would come into place and the client would exit the restaurant without being distracted.