Close Protection: What It Is and Who Needs It
Close Protection officers, also known as bodyguards, are highly trained security professionals who specialize in protecting individuals from physical harm, unwanted attention, and other threats to their safety and privacy. They provide physical security, risk assessments, pre-emptive care, and discreet surveillance to keep their clients safe from harm.
The concept of Close Protection is not a modern one. In fact, historical figures employed bodyguards, going back thousands of years before civilization as we know it. The nature of threats may have changed over the centuries, but the concept of protecting individuals remains the same.
Close Protection officers provide protection to a range of individuals, including public figures, celebrities, politicians, diplomats, and other high-profile individuals. Anyone who is at risk of harm may require a Close Protection officer to assist them short or long-term.
Criminal activity takes place in all communities, and some individuals are more vulnerable to becoming victims of crime. Those who are in a position of influence, for example, celebrities with a lot of followers or international policymakers, are likely to need close protection in their day-to-day lives. Close Protection can protect clients from threats such as over-enthusiastic fans, potential stalkers, direct or indirect threats, covert surveillance/invasion of privacy, terrorist organizations, organized crime, and political rivals or opponents.
Close Protection officers are responsible for keeping their clients safe from harm. They have a wide range of tasks and daily duties that range from project management, strategic planning, tactical driving, conflict management, and even providing emergency first aid treatment. Planning is essential as it is challenging to protect against the unknown.
Despite the way bodyguards are portrayed in film and television, their job is an extremely complex role that requires officers to be highly alert and ready to jump into action at any time. Close Protection officers provide physical, front-line protection from threats such as violent assault, harassment, physical aggression, kidnapping, or even assassination attempts. They are highly trained to respond and react quickly in potentially dangerous situations.
Pr-emptive work is an extremely important part of close protection security, as it can diffuse dangerous threats before they come to fruition. When examining a venue or premises, bodyguards will look for potential weak spots in security, as well as entrances and exits, and members of staff who may come into contact with the protected individual. Pre-emptive security also includes checking for threats to privacy, as well as physical safety. This shows that a bodyguard’s job goes much further than physical security alone, as their goal is to diffuse a threatening situation before it becomes a dangerous one.
Close Protection officers play an important role in assisting their clients to travel safely. They will assist with planning and checking routes or transport before trips and travel alongside their client to ensure a safe and hassle-free journey. Highly trained chauffeurs and security drivers also work as, or alongside Close Protection officers. They are experienced with tactical driving and able to use their skills to escape from threatening situations.
Having a bodyguard present can often be enough to deter opportunistic attacks. Opportunistic attackers are far less likely to behave in a threatening manner if there are security professionals present, as this in itself is an effective deterrent.
In conclusion, Close Protection offers a superior level of security to individuals and their families, and to their business, political, or financial interests.
