16th January 2020

Our Business Security Adviser gives his thoughts on the risks of using Close Protection/Bodyguard Operatives in a business setting.

Firstly I believe that anyone that is working within the business close protection setting or Executive Protection as some people prefer to call it. Needs to be both able to deal with the high risk aspects of close protection, like potential attacks and other threat related attacks.

but also needs to be able to utilise his or her soft skill, such as the customer service skills that every business lead would come to expect.

I have witnessed some CPO’s not really paying attention to what their principle is doing, missing the opportunity to open a door for them or even open the door for the principle.

These should be the basics and not the exception. The other things that I have seen some CPO’s do is forget that they are in a civilian setting.

I don’t necessarily mean this towards ex military. Although they are equally as guilty of this too. and that is smoking near the principle or not monitoring their language.

Now you may be thinking what does this have to do with the Risks involved with Close Protection with in the Business setting?

The simple answer is that if your principle catches you doing these things and there are many more then you will be re leaved of your position very quickly.

The key points from a job risk factor is that you think ahead. Plan well ahead of what your principle will need.

Do they normally read the newspaper when they first get in the car?

Does he or she have a favourite drink they normally drink on the way to and from work?

How do they normally dress for work?

This are all things that you should be making notes of and/or getting with the pre orders before you start.

To many principles who may not be the client, they may see you as an annoyance rather than an asset.

Remember that in business, you either earn money or you lose money. We can seem like a waste if they see no benefit to us.

Getting their Drink ready with their favourite newspaper saves them time and therefore save them valuable time that could be used to earning money or give them an extra five mins with their families.

Making sure that your principles day, week. month runs smoothly and with as little bumps along the way will certainly make you more of an asset than a loss earner.

When it comes to physical risks within the Close Protection for Business, The biggest and most dangerous is the damage to a persons or brand image.

Yes some business leaders have lost everything or a massive amount from silly misdemeanours from years ago or on a night our with friends.
If you are not there you can not stop it. But when you are there you are as much to protect them from themselves than you are from others.

Physical attacks and publicity stunts. These are where you soft skills come in to there own, Make friends with everyone that is involved with your principle. Even if they are not so nice.

Some people ignore the cleaners and the doorman. But these people are the key points of contact for the unusual. They will notice something that is out of the ordinary. They will be able to tell you if they over hear something that another guest or member of staff said about your principle.

By getting your Intel as early as possible. You could prevent most if not all the disruptions that are likely to come to you.

Also remember that if your principle is in the public eye then your actions are going to be under scrutiny as well. I am sure we can all remember the incident with lady gaga’s bodyguard kneeling on a fans head. Or when the French prime ministers bodyguard slapped a bystander who got to close to the Prime Minister.

That caused as much damage as anything that the prime minister did. It over shadowed the walk about and in-turn effected then views of the public