Close Protection in the UK

Over the last few years close protection in the UK has grown drastically, this is due to a number of reasons, the bombings in London, the Olympics in 2012, the media and the increase in Knife-crime.

Most celebrities hire close protection officers to act as personal bodyguards and the role of the close protection officer would involve residential security, acting as an executive chauffeur and keeping the media at a distance so their client can have peace of mind.

Many sportsmen and celebrities use close protection agents for book signings and events where they know that the fans will be all over them. Many of the top sportsmen who are away from home for long periods of time are hiring personal bodyguards for their families.

The bodyguard would live in the clients home and form a residential security team. The main reason for this is because criminals know when the celebrity will be at home and they use this knowledge to their advantage and execute the crime when it suits them most.

In the Lonon region many celebrities hire close protection officers as they don’t need to worry about the paparazzi and fans all the time. These bodyguards would drive their clients around like an executive chauffeur and ensure the clients safety at all times.

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Close Protection Work

It  can be really difficult trying to find work as a close protection officer and the best method of always staying employed is networking. The best form of networking in the 21st century is through social networking, this can be done on forums, chat rooms, and of course social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.

There are many close protection forums where you can gain valuable information about anything ranging from current vacancies, training, private security companies and close protection training courses. The main reason why social networking is so improtant in the close protection industry is because as a CPO one always has to be willing to travel for jobs.

The Internet therefore is the best place to communicate with employers and other Close protection officers to gain vital information. Close Protection is not really an industry where jobs are advertised on commercial job boards, instead it is an industry where you need to know people and you need to be in the right place at the right time.

Through social networking one can stay in touch with other close protection officers and companies all over the world and find decent jobs.

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Close Protection Video

This a video that I made regarding close protection. It is titled Close Protection in Merseyside and gives one some insight into what services a bodyguard or close protection officer might offer.

Please have a look and let me know what you think and where I can improve?

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Close Protection Agents

Close Protection Agents, bodyguards, and private security contractors are all basically the same thing and just vary on the clients specific needs. A good example of this would be to highlight the difference between a close protection officer and a bodyguard.

A bodyguard would be the physical presence that would be seen in the public eye right beside their client which would be a high-profile celebrity. The bodyguard would make sure that their client is not harmed and that their client is not bothered by journalists and fans.

A close protection officer would not really be seen in the public eye but would still have a similar role to the bodyguard in terms of keeping the client safe at all times. A close protection officer would plan the routes of transportation and always make sure that they have a back-up plan.

So basically a bodyguard would work with a high-profile celebrity and a close protection officer would probably be looking after a politician.

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Close Protection England

Close Protection as an industry is really growing quickly in the UK and this is due to a number of different reasons like terror threats, kidnappings, break-ins, and hi-jackings. The role of the Close Protection Agent will obviously vary from job to job depending on the clients needs.

These could be driving the client around like an executuve chauffeur, guarding the clients home which would be known as a residence security team or transporting valuable items from A to B which is known as Asset Protection.

Many high profile people in England have been victims of crime over the past few years and have learnt that its always better to prevent any incident. We have seen many footballers particularily in the North West have their houses raided and in some cases the victims were held at kinfe and gun-point.

We have also recently seen two jewellry stores in Liverpool city centre held up in broad daylight and the members of staff in both stores were traumatised and feared for their lives. In both incidents the criminals were armed and the scurity at the stores were ineffective.

The main reason why close protection is growing in England is because people want to be safe and would much rather have any incident prevented and rather be safe than sorry.

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Close Protection Wigan

Ever since the England striker Emile Heskey had his house raided in the July of 2008 many high profile people have been using Close Protection officers or bodyguards in Wigan. Emile hesky who now plays for Aston Villa was away at the time when villains raided his house and held his girlfriend at knife-point.

After threatening Heskey’s girlfriend the criminals than stole expensive jewellery and the England strikers key to his BMW X 5, many people think that this is one of the reasons why Heskey left Wigan Athletic Football club for Aston Villa. Apparently he now lives in a much safer area in Birmingham and im sure close protection is now a main priority for Heskey and his family.

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Close Protection in Manchester City Centre

This morning seven suspected football hooligans were arrested for their bad behaviour at last weeks Manchester derby in the semi-final of the Carling Cup. Pictures of 15 suspects were published to the public yeterday and in some cases the suspected football hooligans handed themselves in.

Apparently the police at last weeeks game had confiscated a few dangerous items from fans enetering the City of Manchester stadium, these included a snooker ball, darts and a golf ball. During the match an item which looked like a lighter was thrown at Patrice Evra who than picked up the missile and showed what was thrown at him to the officials.

Some fans were seen fighting, ripping seats out and a flair was also lit inside the stadium. It is a real shame that these incidents occurred as both clubs are the biggest they have ever been and yet there is still so many problems with the fans. Manchester has had its fair share of problems in the past with the Rangers fans during the UEFA cup final a couple of seasons ago,  there was chaos in the city and in one case a police officer was severly beaten.

It is a big concern for anyone travelling to the match at Old Trafford tonight and I’m sure some fathers who were going to take their kids have decided against going now as it is a huge risk. What does this cause for future matches? Especially with Manchester City becoming a massive club worldwide.

What we will see in the future is more commercial fans travelling to the mathces with Close Protection Officers to ensure their safety, before, during and after the match. This will be the best strategy and tactic as the police already have their hands full and have been exposed in this region in the past.

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World Cup 2010 Close Protection

Earlier this month two criminals caused an uproar worldwide by going on South African national television. The two criminals went on E-TV a free national TV station and claimed that they are waiting in anticipation for all the potential fans who the criminals see as target’s to arrive in South Africa.

These criminals admitted that if the police try to intervene or stop them in any way they will shoot their way out of any incident. The man who E-TV say acted as a facilitator in sourcing the criminals for the TV show has “APPARENTLY” killed himself, this only after days of him stating that he will not reveal the criminals identities. Very strange and only something you hear about in the third world.

All this does is contribute to the fact that Close Protection and Private Security is a real necessity for any tourist or fan travelling to South Africa. It is just not worth risking taking the chance and I’m sure these two criminals are not the only villains who are looking forward to all the foreign currency that will be brought into South Africa.

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Close Protection Manchester

With the growth of Manchester city centre happening on a daily basis and the fact that Manchester being the second biggest city in England behind London the need for Close Protection in Manchester is greater than ever. In the past it was Manchester United who had big name stars and fans who travelled around the world who would have needed close protection officers but with Manchester City Football club now becoming a major club in European football they will also need the close protection that United players, directors and VIP fans have been using for years.

In general Manchester is quite rough and if you end up on the wrong side of town or walk down the wrong street you could be in for a little surprise, it is not the safest town in the United Kingdom. In the past a few footballers have had their houses broken into whilst they are playing or away.

Almost one year ago the Darren Fletcher, the Scotland Captain was playing for Manchester United against Inter Milan in Italy when his house in Bowden was broken into and several valuable items were stolen.

A few months after that in July 2009, Federico Macheda the young Italian Under 21  international was also away when they broke into his house and stole several items.

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Close Protection Southport

Many people who are now visiting Southport or who have been live in the surrounding area of Merseyside are now hiring close protection. One of the main reasons for people hiring close protection in Southport is because of the infamous Steven Gerrard fight which took place in an upmarket bar in Southport.

It is also a fact that Southport’s demographics are quite old and therefore the criminals know that there easy targets in this area. Another incident which involves Steven Gerrard which also took place not too far away was when raiders stormed into Stevie G’s house while he was playing a football match and stole a few expensive items out of the footballers mansion.

Gerrard’s wife (Alex Curran) was inside thee house with Gerrard’s kids and this really emphasised the need for close protection in Southport and its surrounding areas.

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