Who Can Benefit from Close Protection Security?

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When you search Google for close protection security you will find a ton of different results. But often the results are inaccurate or incomplete, or it’s the security companies promoting their services. Close protection security is commonly used by royal family members, Sportsmen, high-profile businessmen, Hollywood actors, musicians and every other recognisable celebrity and VIP.

Close protection security is a precaution put in place to reduce the risk of danger to the person who is being protected. Close protection officers, or CPOs, are responsible for defusing any aggressive situation involving the individual who hired their services, whether by verbal discussion, unarmed combat, or physical constraint.

While it’s common for someone famous to employ a bodyguard to protect them from a planned attack, bodyguards aren’t just for celebrities and may be hired by anybody prepared to pay for personal security.

What is Close Protection Security?

We live in a world where criminals and terrorists are on the loose, so it’s no surprise that some of the world’s most powerful people go to great lengths to ensure their protection. The mitigation of security threats and their effects on the principal and their assets is known as close protection. In a complicated environment, qualified risk and threat managers (close protection managers ‘CPOs’) supply the mitigation.

Each case is likely to be different because the level of close protective security is usually particularly suited to a unique customer based on their wants and worries. The CPO’s responsibility is to stand by the client and protect their safety in every situation, whether that means chauffeuring them to their destination and dispersing crowds, or maintaining security at the client’s property and doing risk assessments for every activity they participate in.

The modern close protection officer must go through extensive training to guarantee that they can recognise warning signs and keep their customers safe.

Close protection officers may be stationed at their client’s house for both lengthy and short periods of time. Some wealthy people may hire a close security business to protect their assets and keep them close at hand at all times.

When there is a specific threat, they may summon the professionals in other cases. Perhaps the individual has received a death threat or something similar, and they are paying for security to safeguard their families.

Before doing a risk assessment and devising a plan, most close protection officers will spend time investigating the issue and gathering intelligence.

Only individuals with bright brains will succeed in this segment, as there is no place for someone who cannot remain vigilant and aware 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Who Are Close Protection Officers?

Close protection officers or CPOs are officers employed to protect their client, client’s lifestyle and their property and possessions from a vast array of potential threats. This might be anything from a non-threatening but overly enthusiastic superfan coming too close to a client to something as dangerous as a terrorist attack. A CPO may be required to work on a detail alone or as part of a larger team, depending on the customer, role, operation, and budget.

Oftentimes, we will have people from law enforcement agencies or military branches who want to transition into protective work.

A CPO’s work profile may vary depending on the needs of a specific client. A CPO could be involved in a variety of tasks, for example, if a client requests a specific type of vehicle, the CPO must accommodate their wishes, chauffeuring them anywhere they need to go. If a client feels better at peace in their own home or in a property that has been rented or leased for the duration of their stay, the CPO may be required to assess the essential security measures and remain on-call for an unknown period.

In many circumstances, a client will be travelling abroad. A CPO’s package can include even the transport between countries. By doing so, the CPO may keep an eye on the client from door to door and everywhere in between, ensuring that a trustworthy face oversees operations from beginning to end.

Training of CPOs

To be able to become a licensed close protection officer candidates have to undergo a lot of training. So, anyone who’s planning to start their career in this industry has to get an SIA license. However, that only applies to frontline staff, and other people working in the industry don’t have to worry about it quite as much.

Let’s highlight some of the hard and soft skills in close protection security.

Hard Skills

The four most basic hard skills include:

Driving
Unarmed combat
Shooting
Medical skills

When you’re in close protection, knowing basic driving techniques is essential. You should also have some kind of unarmed combat or martial arts training. There is no better MAs than the others; it’s all a matter of personal taste.

You should also be familiar with basic medical first aid and CPR and have a certificate to prove it. Finally, there are your shooting abilities, which are normally the most discussed and practised. Any functioning CPO, on the other hand, would tell you that shooting is their most misused talent. Because close protection work isn’t like the movies, your odds of engaging in a firefight during your career are limited to none.

Soft Skills

Although hard skills will get you through the proverbial close protection door, soft skills will make you stand out. And there’s no denying it: if your soft skills aren’t up to par, you’ll be out of a job before you can even ask, “Which soft talents?”

Some of the key soft skills we always like to highlight are:

Resourcefulness
Communication skills
Discretion
Creative
Poise

Never underestimate the value of well-developed soft skills, since they have the potential to make or break your entire career. Remember that close protection is a very close-knit industry, and if you have a terrible attitude or continually brag about your clients on social media, you won’t stay long.

Benefits of Using Close Protection Security –

Threats of attack or injury are reduced
Rapid reaction to changing threats
Prevents life-threatening situations from occurring
Gives you peace of mind
Safeguards any valuables
It aids in the dispersal of crowds
The expertise of highly qualified and experienced personnel
At whatever risk level, help is available
The ability to roam freely in public

Before Adopting Close Protection Security, What Should You Examine with a Security Provider?

It is always best to undertake due diligence before engaging with a security provider to organise close protective security:

Verify if they have the required certifications and qualifications. Companies that provide this service must be British Standards 8507 (close protection) certified. This certifies that they are capable of providing consistent close protection security.
Check that the guards have an SIA Close Protection licence, indicating that they are qualified to act as a bodyguard or close protection officer in the private security profession. This guarantees that standards such as a first-aid certificate and a criminal background check have been met.
Check that the company and close protection officers are aware of at least the fundamental regulations that must be considered in the function, such as the Road Traffic Act of 1988 and the rules governing justifiable force and criminal harassment. This is necessary to guarantee that you receive the best possible service.

Summing-up

Shergroup has been in the security industry for over 15 years now. We offer protection services to clients from different walks of life. Our varied client base features businesses, corporate giants, retail stores, commercial complexes, public institutions, and property owners. We have a team of experienced security officers who have been certified by SIA license. Our close protection security officers are smart, vigilant, and fully-trained to ensure they can handle high-pressure situations and properly protect anyone of high risk.

After being in the industry for so long we’ve observed that there’s a misconception amongst the public at large that only the wealthiest and most famous individuals require close protection. Well, this is anything but true. The truth is that almost anyone in need of security can be a client or a principal.

Every client is different and has its own set of requirements. For example, the requirements of a head of state travelling and a celebrity on the red carpet are likely to differ, and it is the responsibility of the CPO to alter their approach. Either way, no matter who the principal is, our job is to protect them and their assets, and we do that in the best possible manner.

If you’re looking for an agency that could offer close protection security service, contact us today for effective and professional security solutions.