What is close protection?
Close protection is the UK term for bodyguarding. A trained, licensed officer stays close to you to keep you safe, so you can get on with your day.
The image of a bodyguard stepping in front of a threat is only a small part of the job. Most of the work is quiet and preventive. It means planning ahead, reading the people and places around you, and choosing routes and timings that avoid trouble before it starts. Done well, close protection is felt more than seen. You keep your schedule, your privacy and your peace of mind.
Our close protection service builds on over 25 years of corporate chauffeur experience, serving notable personalities on the international business stage. Our close protection personnel are fully trained, experienced and government accredited.
Who uses close protection in London?
We provide close protection to state officials, public figures, corporate executives and private individuals. What they share is a need to move through the city safely and without disruption.
- State officials, who need secure, well-planned movement between engagements.
- Public figures, whose visibility can attract unwanted attention in public places.
- Corporate executives, travelling between meetings, events and appointments to a tight schedule.
- Private individuals, who want reassurance as they go about their lives, or during a period of concern.
You do not need to be well known to benefit. Private security for individuals is often about a role, a circumstance or a particular occasion, not fame.
Do you need a single officer or a team?
That depends on your risk profile, your schedule and how visible you want protection to be. Some situations call for one experienced officer. Others need a coordinated team.
| Consideration | Single officer | Protection team |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Lower-profile schedules and routine days | Higher-profile individuals and busy public diaries |
| How it works | One officer stays with you throughout | Roles are shared, such as close escort, advance work and driving |
| Visibility | Very low, easily taken for a colleague or companion | Kept low key, or more visible where deterrence helps |
Close protection often works best alongside a security chauffeur, so the person driving you is also a licensed close protection officer. Every one of our security chauffeurs holds a government-accredited close protection licence and has strong local knowledge. The right balance of personnel is agreed with you during the consultation.
How is close protection planned?
Close protection is planned in advance, so routes, destinations, timings and contingencies are worked out before you set off. Across the profession, advance planning and reconnaissance are standard practice: the aim is to understand where you are going before you arrive.
In general terms, that planning covers:
- Routes, including alternatives if traffic or circumstances change.
- Destinations, looking at entrances, exits, parking and where a vehicle can wait.
- Timings, so arrivals and departures are smooth and time spent waiting in public is kept short.
- Contingencies, so there is a clear plan if something unexpected happens.
Local knowledge makes a real difference here. Our security chauffeurs have strong local knowledge of London, and our local expertise and relationships can also give you access to events and locations across the city.
Can close protection fit around business, social and everyday life?
Yes. We provide close protection for social, business and day-to-day activities, and the plan is built around how you actually live and work.
- Business: meetings, conferences, corporate events and travel between appointments.
- Social: dinners, shows, hospitality events and evenings out.
- Day to day: shopping, appointments and the ordinary routine of a week in the city.
If you also need a restaurant booked or tickets to a sold-out show, our concierge service can arrange it, so protection and planning come from one team.
How discreet is close protection?
Very. Discretion is part of the job, not an extra. Our personnel are trained to handle every situation with professionalism and discretion, and client names are never disclosed.
In practice, discreet protection means officers who blend into the setting, speak quietly and stay attentive without hovering. The people around you see a calm, composed companion rather than a security operation. You decide how visible you want your protection to be, and the plan reflects that.
What does an SIA close protection licence involve?
In the UK, anyone working as a close protection officer under contract must hold a front-line close protection licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the government body that regulates the private security industry. Working without one is a criminal offence.
As a general guide, getting a licence involves:
- Accredited training, through a recognised close protection qualification, with a valid first aid qualification held before training begins.
- Identity checks, confirming the applicant is who they say they are.
- Criminality checks, reviewing the applicant’s criminal record.
- Right to work checks, confirming the applicant can legally work in the UK.
- Renewal, because licences are time-limited and must be renewed to stay valid.
Licence holders appear on the SIA’s public register, so you can check a licence before you engage anyone. All of our close protection officers hold a government-accredited SIA close protection licence. We treat it as the baseline, alongside training, experience and sound judgement.
How does a close protection engagement work?
Every engagement follows the same clear process, and nothing begins until you have confirmed the plan.
- Enquire. Call us, send a WhatsApp message or use the enquiry form. Our telephone line is open 24 hours.
- Consultation. A confidential conversation about your schedule, risk profile and needs.
- Tailored plan. We set out the personnel, vehicles and routes, then confirm the plan with you.
- Protection in place. Your team is in place, working to the plan you confirmed.
Every engagement is quoted individually after the consultation, based on the cover you need.
Arrange close protection in London
To discuss close protection in confidence, contact our team at any time. Call +44 (0)20 3355 6629, available 24 hours, or send a WhatsApp message to +44 7402 505507.
If you want protection, transport and support handled together, the VIP Package combines close protection with a chauffeur service, 24-hour concierge, home patrol, 24-hour emergency response and staff sourcing. And while you are away on business or holiday, residential security looks after your property.