Close Protection Operative
Introduction
Close Protection Operatives protect people such as politicians, business
people and celebrities. They assess, and try to minimise, the risk of harm or
unwanted attention that their clients face in their homes, in public places and
while travelling. As a last resort, they have to deal with any conflict or danger
that occurs.
Also known as
Bodyguard
Personal Protection Officer
Work Activities
As a Close Protection Operative (CPO), also known as a Bodyguard, you will help to protect people from harm or
unwanted attention. You'll protect politicians, film stars, musicians, celebrities and business people, for example.
You will travel with your clients as they go about their daily business or social lives; sometimes you may also protect
clients in their homes, depending on the risks they face.
Your duties might include:
assessing and minimising risks
planning routes
checking vehicles, venues and grounds
keeping watch and being alert to danger
dealing with conflict.
When you visit a venue in advance, you will check the security, plan the entrance and exit routes and sometimes
check for bugging devices or explosives. You might use new technology to find and neutralise electronic listening
devices, for example. Venues could be places like offices, large conference centres or individual hotel rooms.
If you are protecting a client at home, you might monitor things like mail deliveries, visitors, telephone calls and alarm
systems. You might need to check the boundary of the gardens or grounds regularly to make sure intruders can't get
in.
Sometimes, you may need to drive your client to a meeting or event; or, you'll follow behind in another vehicle.
Before setting off, you will need to check any vehicle that will be used, to make sure it's safe. When you arrive at the
destination, you must stay close to your client, watching carefully for signs of any danger of attack or threat to that
person's safety.
If you spot a threat, you must try to get the client away from the danger as calmly and safely as possible. As a last
resort, you might even have to physically defend your client and restrain an attacker.
CPOs often work in teams and use two-way radios to keep in contact with each other. CPOs travel frequently and
might spend time away from home.
Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.
Personal Qualities and Skills
As a Close Protection Operative (CPO), you'll need to be able to:
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Pay close attention to detail.
Blend in discreetly and professionally with the lifestyle of your client.
Assess risks and be aware of danger; you should be resourceful and observant.
Keep physically fit.
Use your initiative.
Keep calm under pressure and act quickly and decisively.
Adopt a flexible approach to problem solving.
Give emergency first aid if necessary.
Plan and organise.
Work well in a team.
Use verbal and written communication skills effectively.
Respect the confidentiality of your clients.
Understand the laws that relate to close protection.
CPOs usually need weapons skills and unarmed combat skills. Many CPOs need a full driving licence.
Pay and Opportunities
Pay
The pay rates given below are approximate.
Starting: £26,500 - £29,000
With experience: £32,000 - £35,500
Senior Close Protection Operatives earn £38,000 - £41,500
Hours of work
CPOs' working hours can be irregular and involve early starts, late finishes, shift work and work on weekends and
public holidays.
Where could I work?
Where CPOs are employed, their employers are private security firms. CPOs work for individuals or groups of
individuals, for example, heads of state, celebrities, and heads of industry.
Opportunities for CPOs occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.
There are opportunities for UK-trained officers to work in overseas countries throughout the world.
Self-employment
Most close protection officers are self-employed.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Most work is gained through personal contacts or by applying speculatively to private security companies. Vacancies
are sometimes advertised on specialist job boards or on employers' websites.
Entry Routes and Training
Entry routes
Many people enter this career after working in the armed forces or the police service.
Close Protection Operatives (CPOs) working under contract need to hold a licence issued by the Security Industry
Authority (SIA). Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
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To get one of the qualifications linked to close protection licensing, you will need to attend an approved training
course and pass an exam. You will also be assessed on practical tasks.
The training is made up of two modules and covers areas such as:
risk assessment
surveillance
close protection teamwork
operational planning
law
interpersonal skills
route selection and journey management
venue security
conflict management.
Only SIA-recognised training courses and approved level 3 certificate exams are accepted for an SIA licence. See the
SIA website for more details.
CPOs also need a recognised first aid certificate.
The SIA also carries out criminal record checks on people applying for a licence. Check with the SIA for further details.
Training
There are various relevant further training courses available but these do not form part of the licensing scheme.
There is a Certificate in Providing Security Services at level 2 that can be taken while in employment.
Progression
Close Protection Operatives can progress by taking on more specialist work or higher profile clients.
Buckinghamshire New University offers the foundation degree in Protective Security Management, delivered by
work-based distance learning. A foundation degree in Security and Risk Management is available by distance learning
from the University of Leicester.
Some CPOs start their own business.
Work Experience
Previous experience working in the security industry and dealing with the public would be really useful for this career.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Working as a close protection officer under contract is normally an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions,
cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to
reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.
Not all criminal records will prevent you from applying for an SIA licence. If you have a criminal record, the SIA will
look at how recent, how serious and how relevant the record is. The SIA has a Criminal Record Indicator on its
website where you can check anonymously whether you would be eligible for an SIA licence.
Qualifications
No minimum educational qualifications are usually set for entry to this job. However, some employers might prefer
applicants to have GCSEs including Maths and English.
A relevant work-related qualification might be accepted, such as:
a BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 qualification in Close Protection Training
a BTEC Level 2 qualification in Disengagement and Non-restrictive Physical Intervention Skills
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a BTEC Level 3 qualification in Working as a Close Protection Operative within the Private Security Industry.
Adult Opportunities
Age limits
Age limits apply to this occupation. Applicants must be over 18 years of age to hold a Security Industry Authority (SIA)
licence.
Skills/experience
Many entrants to training have a police or military background.
Courses
Relevant attended close protection courses lead to SIA licensing. A list of training providers is available from the SIA
website.
Further Information
Contacts
City & Guilds
Address: 1 Giltspur Street, London EC1A 9DD
Tel: 020 7294 2468
Email: learnersupport@cityandguilds.com
Website: www.cityandguilds.com
International Professional Security Association (IPSA)
Address: Railway House, Railway Road, Chorley, Lancashire PR6 0HW
Tel: 0845 8738114
Email: post@ipsa.org.uk
Website: www.ipsa.org.uk
Security Industry Authority (SIA)
Address: PO Box 1293, Liverpool L69 1AX
Tel: 0844 8921025
Website: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk
Skills for Security
Address: Security House, Barbourne Road, Worcester WR1 1RS
Tel: 01905 744000
Email: info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk
Website: www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk
Careers in the Private Security Industry
Publisher: International Professional Security Association (IPSA)
Email: post@ipsa.org.uk
Website: www.ipsa.org.uk/downloads/Careersleaflet.pdf
Professional Security Magazine
Publisher: JTC Associates
Tel: 01922 415233
Email: info@professionalsecurity.co.uk
Website: www.professionalsecurity.co.uk
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