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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Bodyguard England

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.

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SIA Close Protection

In many countries all over the world you do not need to be licenced to be a Close Protection Officer but in the UK one has to be licenced through the SIA which is the Security Industry Authority. In order to gain a licence one has to provide personal details and a background check is done in order to see that you have no serious convictions.

This is the main reason why the SIA came about as before this anyone could have worked in the security industry and the stereotypical “Tough-Guys” who had previous convictions often ruined the reputation of the security industry. The SIA has made the security industry professional and it is really important that the standards are maintained.

You can visit the SIA website here

www.the-sia.org.uk/You

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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 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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Close Protection Liverpool

Liverpool is infamously know for its crime all over the world and this is why many high profile people in this area are hiring executive protection officers in the Merseyside area. There have been many incidents in the past that could have been avoided if there was a close protection officer present.

The incidents which come to mind are the Joey Barton fight incident which took place just outside the MacDonald’s in Liverpool city centre. There have also been many incidents in which professional footballers have had their houses raided and in certain cases force has been used.

An example of this was when Robbie Keane’s city centre apartment was raided and a few of his belongings had been taken.

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Executive Chauffeur

Executive ChauffeurMany celebrities, CEOs, sportsmen and all politicians are now using high quality Close Protection Officers for executive chauffeur services.

The reason why most are of the A-List Celeb’s are using Private Security Contractors as opposed to your ordinary Chauffeur is because they know by hiring a CPO they are hitting two birds with one stone.

Not only do Close Protection Officers have Advanced Driving as one of their many skills which would be obvious for an executive chauffeur but they also have many other skill’s ranging from first aid, efficiency with weapons, protection skills and a great understanding of the law.

Most Celebrities also do not have time to waste and again this is another reason why close protection officers would be useful, with the planning close protection officers do they will always know all the possible routes of getting from A to B.

If there seven different routes that would be possible and a few of them are blocked up because of a traffic accident or peak hour traffic than your CPO would be able to travel another route and still get you to your destination on time.

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