The british american security expert has trained tens of thousands of vip protection and bodyguarding students for world-wide deployment on executive protection services operations. From the moment any bodyguarding students enter his protective service operations and officer protection close security training programs they are taught how to enhance these two primary bodyguarding skills.

In the midst of our current global war against terrorism it has become widely accepted and reported by the british american security expert that human instinct plays a very important role as the first line of defence against terrorism and terrorist atrocities. Observation and human instinct has been overlooked in recent years by intelligence agencies as they have diverted their budgets and placed an over reliance on the procurement of electronic surveillance and intelligence gathering systems.

Any professional security expert will tell you that human intuition and enhanced observation skills are far better danger detection devices than even the most state of the art electronic gadgets. In the world of bodyguarding, vip protection, executive protection services, security, close security and officer protection this fact is recognised by every security expert providing training for protective service operations.

In this protection bodyguard inside secrets of protective service operations article I cover the following content matter…

1. Composition of protective service operations and a protection bodyguard
2. Specific tasks of the protection bodyguard
3. Why is there a need for protective service operations?

Security threats to business clients are increasing globally. Kidnappings for ransom and kidnappings for publicity fuelled executions are also increasing. This definitive article explores the inside secrets of protective service operations provided to business clients. It also provides a valuable security insight into the modus operandi of a protection bodyguard trained in the provision of protective service operations for fee paying clients.

Introduction To Protective Service Operations by the British American security expert,

1. Composition Of Protective Operatives

Due to the industry’s training syllabus not being officially regulated, there is a huge variety of permutations in the composition of protective team operatives.

Composition Terminology

Individual Protection Officer

• Protection Bodyguard (PG)
• Bodyguard (BG)
• Close Protection Officer (CPO)
• Executive Protection Officer (EPO)
• Personal Protection Officer (PPO)

Protective Service Operations Team

• Executive Protection Team (EPT)
• Close Protection Team (CPT)
• Personal Protection Team (PPT)
• Bodyguard Team (BT)
• Advance Security Team (AST)
• Resident Security Team (RST)

Other Related Officers

• Vehicle Chauffeur (VC)
• In House Security Consultant (IHSC)
• Officer In Charge (OIC)

2. Specific Tasks Of The Protection Bodyguard

Individual Protection Bodyguard

The Individual Protection Bodyguard/Officer is the person who provides the final line of defence for the V.I.P. His or her main consideration is threat avoidance.

Executive Protection Team

The duty of the Executive Protection Team is to form a protective shield around the V.I.P. and Team Leader. This includes dealing with all potential and unexpected threats whilst the Team Leader removes the V.I.P. to safety. Every individual protection bodyguard should remember that he or she should always be conscious of also providing close security and officer protection for members of the protective services operations team as well as the fee paying client.

Outer Protection Officers

Advance Security Team
The Advance Security Team takes control of all advanced threat assessment duties, including route planning and site surveys. The Advanced Security Team secures the venue which the V.I.P. is to visit and depending on the schedule, either acts as the outer security cordon or moves on to recce the next venue.

Resident Security Team
The Resident Security Team takes control of the V.I.P’s place of residence or their office facilities.

Other Related Officers

Vehicle Chauffeur
The Vehicle Chauffeur takes responsibility for the V.I.P’s comfort and safety whilst in his vehicle. Other duties include the security and maintenance of the V.I.P’s vehicle and the security storage facilities for the vehicle.

In House Security Consultant
The In House Security Consultant provides the Officer In Charge or Team Leader with all outside requested information.

Officer In Charge
The Officer In Charge is the overall commander of the Protective Operations Team.
He is not usually part of the actual team, but is more likely to be a senior member of the company which employs the protection team. His duties include liaison between all operatives and outside agencies.

3. Why Is There A Need?
As long as there are human beings on this earth, there will be a need for professional protection officers. Human nature dictates that lots of people suffer from greed and jealousy, especially criminals.

For centuries successful business people have been actively targeted by criminals, terrorists and jealous fanatics. The 1990’s have seen a boom in the training and supplying of professional protection officers to try to counteract the threat to V.I.P’s.

One of the most significant occurrences of contemporary times, is that it is no longer just V.I.P’s who require protection. Because crime, and especially crimes of violence are on the increase in most countries around the world, we have seen everyday working class people seeking the services of professional protection officers.

The people who utilise the services of protection teams in modern times are as follows:

• Royalty.
• Presidential.
• Diplomatic.
• Judiciary.
• Executive.
• Military
• Celebrity.
• Ordinary Members of the Public.
• Criminal.*

*Criminal Bodyguarding is one of the major growth areas within the Executive Protection industry.

Be Careful. Check Out Your Clients Very Carefully.

The information in this article has been taken from the training syllabus of the Law Enforcement & Bodyguard Association International – L.E.B.A.I

It is equally important to understand and identify the very premise of close protection and bodyguarding. A protective guard or protective guards only exist because there is an actual or perceived threat levied against a human or other valuable asset. Generally human assets fear what they do not understand, in the case of hiring protective guards to supply close protection service the business executive asset typically does not understand professional security and hence they or their senior directors are fearful enough to engage protective guards to supply a close protection or bodyguarding protective service operations.

The security industry is booming, especially the sector dealing with executive protection where a protective guard is assigned to a business executive on close protection. This article provides an introduction to protective guard a secret history of close protection bodyguarding. The information in this article has been taken from the training syllabus of the Law Enforcement & Bodyguard Association International – L.E.B.A.I

In this article I cover the following content matter…

1. Introduction to the secret history of close protection bodyguarding
2. What are protective service operations
3. History of bodyguarding and protective guards

Protective Guard A Secret History Of Close Protection Bodyguarding

Introduction to Protective Service Operations

1. Introduction

In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts mind there are few!

Executive VIP Protection is experiencing a major boom as we progress towards the end of the first decade of the new Millennium. This sector of the security business is set to become one of the largest growth areas connected to the International security industry.

The nineties saw the collapse of Communism in a major part of the world. The former Soviet Union, which alone covers one sixth of the world’s land mass, is witnessing a phenomenal increase in the employment of Executive Protection Officers, ( EPO’s. ) There had never been a need for Executive Protection Officers prior to Perestroika, as private business was rigorously opposed by the communist regimes, the introduction of private business in this part of the world has dictated the need for professionally trained Executive Protection Officers, especially as the various Mafia groups and organised crime lords openly battle for control of these new businesses. As further political and business stability comes to these regions we will see a massive need for professional Executive Protection Officers.

This boom is not limited to the former Eastern Bloc countries. The West is also experiencing a huge increase in the employment of Executive Protection Officers. Crime is steadily rising in most countries around the world, particularly crimes linked to violence. Whilst we continue to see this increase we will also experience a continued growth in the executive protection industry.

Most governments now openly admit that the private sector offers a much more reliable, cost efficient service than the traditional public sector. It is anticipated that by the turn of the century the European Parliament will officially recognise and regulate Executive Protection Officers in the same vein as the government of the U.S.A.

2. What Are Protective Service Operations?

Protective service operations are basically a security operation where an individual, or a team of Executive Protection Officers or protective guards, supply a complete protection service to a client or clients like a business executive who feel, or have actually been, threatened. These threats can be written, verbal or physical.

A client or clients who fear for their personal safety would initially contact a security consultant who would recommend a professional protection team. The chief operational officer of the team would then organise the complete protective service operation.

The service operation would be a unique package, tailor made to suit the individual needs of the client. It would encompass such things as:

• Client Interview.
• Threat Analysis.
• Past Incident Research.
• Present Day Risk Analysis.
• Individual Client’s Protection Team Formation.
• Operational Pre-Briefing.
• Operational De-Briefing.

A professional protective service operation can be organised for any low, medium or high risk scenario in any overseas location, providing the protection team have the relevant International Government and Law Enforcement contacts.

International Laws Concerning Executive Protection Service Operations Vary From Country To Country

3. History of bodyguarding

Most people’s perception of bodyguarding is that it is a relatively new industry which only stretches back approximately 100 years; nothing could be further from the truth. Visit www.asecurityonestopshop.com to purchase The History of Bodyguarding by the British American Security Expert. Professional bodyguarding can be traced back thousands of years and is in fact one of the oldest professions known to man.

In order to understand the history it is essential to first understand the actual meaning of the word bodyguard. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the meaning as ‘A person, or group of persons escorting and protecting another person, especially a dignitary’.

With this in mind a few of the best known individuals, and groups of people, who have utilised the services of professional bodyguards in the last two thousand years are named below.

Julius Caesar (Circa) 100 B.C.

At the height of his career as a General and Dictator of the Roman Empire it was estimated that he utilised the services of approximately two thousand professional bodyguards. Unfortunately for him many of them conspired in his death on the 15th March 44 BC (stabbed).

Spartacus 74-71 BC

Spartacus was a bandit and slave who trained as a gladiator. He formed an army of 90,000 slaves. His protection team consisted of fellow gladiators who had also escaped from the Gladiatorial School in Capua, Italy.

Attila The Hun 406-453

Became King of the Huns in 434. For the next 20 years he was protected by members of his warring nomad tribesmen as he conquered and plundered most of Europe.

El Cid circa 1043-1099

Spanish soldier and national hero (real name Rodrigo Diaz De Vivar) surrounded himself with protection from an army of brave and loyal men.

GENGHIS KHAN 1162-1227

Originally named Temujin, he created the Mongol Empire the largest empire in history. He achieved his success through brilliant leadership, strict discipline and unimaginable cruelty. He utilised Mongolian tribesmen as his bodyguards.

Oliver Cromwell 1599-1658

Lord Protector of Great Britain from 1653 to 1658,he utilised members of his New Model Army as bodyguards to deal with assassination attempts, especially from the Cavaliers, supporters of King Charles I.

Napoleon Bonaparte I 1769-1821

At the height of his career in November 1799 after the famous coup d’etat from which he became the new leader of France until his defeat at the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon utilised the services of a full company of soldiers as his personal bodyguards. He was a definite high risk client who was regularly targeted by assassins. The first attempted explosive time bomb assassination attempt was against Napoleon.

Shaka circa 1787-1828

Shaka was the first great chief of the Zulu nation. He was protected by the elite of his fighting forces. He lived a high risk existence, especially after he put 7,000 of his own Zulu’s to death as a sign of grief when his mother died.

Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

Lincoln was assassinated whilst at the theater one evening by a fanatical supporter of the Southern States. He had dismissed his protection team for the evening (Shot).

Queen Victoria 1837-1901

Queen Victoria utilised bodyguards and survived between seven and twenty eight assassination attempts. Although furnished with many protection officers, she preferred the company of one individual officer. Originally Irish Special Branch was created to protect her from the Irish Fenian Brotherhood.

Charles De Gaulle 1890-1970

President of France1958-1969, he survived many assassination attempts as he steered his country through political turmoil.

Lord Mountbatten

He ignored his Special Branch protection team’s advice to take a boating holiday in a country other than Ireland. He was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

Mrs Indira Gandhi 1917-1984

As Prime Minister of India she regularly used bodyguards, usually officers of the Indian Intelligence Service. She ignored their advice and also employed Sikh bodyguards, two of whom were the police officers who assassinated her in 1984.

*Some of the most professional bodyguards in history were the ancient ‘Samurai’ warriors from Japan. Their protection services were provided to feuding warlords and landowners.

This protective guard a secret history of close protection bodyguarding article has only covered the very early history of bodyguarding and close protection. Further historical updates will follow in a future article.

Know The Limitations of Executive Protection bodyguard companies

I’ve spent close to 20 years actively involved in all aspects of extremely high risk executive protection services as a professional bodyguard and adjunct instructor of executive protection training for hundreds of bodyguard companies in 42 different countries. One of the best kept executive protection security secrets is to know the limitations of executive protection bodyguard companies. I cannot emphasise how important this is. I have frequently listened in to fellow executive protection instructors working full time direct for various bodyguard companies informing executive protection students about how their executive protection training is the best in the world and how their bodyguards are the special forces of the executive protection services industry.

In many of these bodyguard companies the poor level of executive protection training delivered to these aspiring bodyguards was woefully inadequate to prepare them for anything above low risk bodyguard jobs within the domestic executive protection services industry.

Executive Protection Top 5 Secrets #2

Know Your Executive Protection Enemies Before You Consider A Professional Bodyguard Career
Out of the thousands of global bodyguard companies delivering executive protection training I have only come across two within the executive protection services industry who teach their bodyguards to know your executive protection enemies before you consider a professional bodyguard career. The relevance of this issue cannot be understated as I have witnessed bodyguard companies churning out production lines of executive protection bodyguards whose only focus is on the most obvious enemy.

In the real world of executive protection services every professional bodyguard knows that the greatest compromise faced by most bodyguards comes from one of the other four enemies, i.e. The first enemy of every professional bodyguard is him/her self. The second enemy is the spouse, girl/boy friend and family members of the executive protection services team members. Third is the local bureaucracy of the country in which you are conducting your executive protection services contract. Fourth is your executive protection client, VIP or Principal.

The fifth enemy of every professional bodyguard is what every security expert deems the obvious enemy in the executive protection services threat assessment, typically a terrorist, organised crime organisation or the obvious perpetrator.

Executive Protection Top 5 Secrets #3

Know The Executive Protection Training Level Of Your Executive Protection Team Members

Throughout my executive protection services career I have survived several improvised explosive device explosions and grenade attacks, various knife attacks, a building bombing and more shoot-outs than Arnold Swarzeneeger. However the closest I ever came to losing my life was in a dark alley frequented by Soviet Troops and Soviet Mafia Hoods in Latvia. At the time I was working for several bodyguard companies as a freelance executive protection services team leader. Most of the executive protection bodyguards I commanded had graduated as a professional bodyguard from some of the world’s most reputable executive protection training bodyguard companies. However I was frequently tasked with leading teams of bodyguards who were hired in on a freelance casual labour basis.

Their bodyguard companies were supposed to have checked their credentials and as a given should have ascertained they were highly skilled in executive protection training. In the pursuit of short term greed many of these bodyguard companies failed in their due diligence prior to hiring these bodyguards. Subsequently these poorly trained bodyguards caused many serious problems some of which compromised security and personal safety of the more professional executive protection services team members.

The closest I ever came to losing my life during an executive protection services contract was because I didn’t know the executive protection training level of your executive protection team members. I vowed never to compromise my personal security ever again by making that mistake. Take this on-board because it’s great advice.

In my experience there are more than enough professional executive protection bodyguards working the international circuit to ensure you don’t have to work with a less than fully skilled professional bodyguard.

Executive Protection Top 5 Secrets #4

Know Your Executive Protection Services Client/s

One of the most difficult aspects of being a professional bodyguard is getting to know your executive protection services client/s. This is despite having conducted hundreds of executive protection bodyguard jobs for clients across four continents.
Even though I conduct rigorous profile assessments and threat assessments for every individual executive protection services client and executive protection contract it is always difficult to really scratch below the surface to get to know your executive protection services client/s. When I deliver executive protection training for various international bodyguard companies I always advise every professional bodyguard in attendance that most executive protection services client/s will only tell you half the story. By definition when a client hires the executive protection services of bodyguards there has been either an actual or perceived threat against that client or a member of his/her family or business associate.

Hiring bodyguards from any of the professional bodyguard companies is an expensive endeavour and it is often this reason why executive protection services client/s fail to provide all the relevant information. these executive protection clients, many of who are from a business owner background have been schooled in how to save money. If they downplay the threat against them they know the bodyguard companies will assign less executive protection bodyguards to protect them. Although it is obviously false economy and it’s pre-programmed for failure I have personally experienced this with several executive protection clients.

You should never try to cut costs by failing to compile well researched profile and threat assessments prior to executive protection contract deployment for any of the bodyguard jobs you undertake. It is during the profile and threat assessment stage that you have the best opportunity to get know your executive protection services client/s.

Executive Protection Top 5 Secrets #5

Know When To Say No To Executive Protection Bodyguard Jobs

When aspiring bodyguards initially contact bodyguard companies to enrol on their executive protection training programmes with a view to winning bodyguard jobs it is very tempting to say yes to every executive protection services contract that lands on your desk. The chance to recoup their executive protection training investment and a burning desire to get their first executive protection services contracts under their belt are the main two reasons why they say yes to every contract. In reality, although it’s a bitter pill to swallow, it is precisely at this early stage of your executive protection career when you have to know when to say no to executive protection bodyguard jobs.

I am the first to admit in the early stages of my executive protection career my burning desire to prove myself as a professional bodyguard forced me to say yes to many executive protection services contracts when I should have said no. It’s one of those lessons that most executive protection training programmes fail to teach you. In reality if you don’t learn to know when to say no to executive protection bodyguard jobs your career could be short lived.
I have personally witnessed several teams of bodyguards who have cut corners to save money when conducting their own executive protection training foolishly accept executive protection services contracts which sadly delivered fatal consequences on various bodyguard jobs.

Know The Limitations of Bodyguarding & Your bodyguard company
20 years involvement in all aspects of extremely high risk security, bodyguard services as a security bodyguard and adjunct instructor of body guard training for just about every joint venture bodyguard company in over 42 countries. I’ve acknowledged that one of the best kept vip security secrets is to know the limitations of bodyguarding and your bodyguard company. I cannot stress how important this is.

I have repeatedly listened in to associate vip security instructors employed on a full time salaried basis for an individual bodyguard company informing vip security students about how their body guard training is the best in the world and how their bodyguarding teachers are the SAS equivalent of the security, bodyguard services industry.

In every bodyguard company mentioned above, the dismal level of body guard training offered to these bodyguarding trainees was miserably ineffective to prime them for anything above mundane low risk body guard jobs within the domestic security, bodyguard services industry.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #2

Know Your VIP Security Enemies Before You Consider A Security Bodyguard Vocation

From just about every International bodyguard company delivering body guard training I have ever witnessed, I’ve only come across two within the bodyguard services industry who teach their bodyguarding students to know your vip security enemies before you consider a security bodyguard vocation. The relevance of this issue should be reiterated as I have witnessed many a bodyguard company churning out hordes of vip security bodyguarding officers, whose only focus is on the most observable enemy.

In the real world of bodyguard services every security bodyguard knows that the greatest problem faced by most bodyguarding officers comes from one of the other four enemies, i.e. The first enemy of every security bodyguard is him/her self. The second enemy is the spouse, girl/boy friend and family members of the bodyguard services team members. Third is the local administration of the country in which you are conducting your bodyguard services detail. Fourth is your vip security client, VIP or Principal.

The fifth enemy of every security bodyguard is what every security expert deems the understandable enemy in the bodyguard services threat assessment, typically a terrorist, organised crime organisation are the obvious executor.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #3

Know The Body Guard Training Level Of Your VIP Security Team Members

Throughout my bodyguard services livelihood I have survived many professionally coordinated attacks against VIP’s under my protection. However the closest I ever came to losing my life was in a dark alley frequented by Soviet Troops and Soviet Mafia Hoods in Latvia. At the time I was working for a bodyguard company as a freelance bodyguard services unit commander. Most of the vip security bodyguarding officers under my command had graduated as a security bodyguard from some of the world’s most reputable body guard training organisations or an individual specialist bodyguard company. However I was frequently tasked with leading teams of bodyguarding officers who were hired in on an as and when required basis.

One particular bodyguard company was supposed to checked their bodyguarding certification and as a matter of basic security should have identified they were highly skilled participants of body guard training. In the pursuit of short term greed this particular bodyguard company failed in their due diligence prior to hiring these bodyguarding officers. Afterwards these terribly trained bodyguarding officers caused many dangerous problems some of which breached security and the personal safety of the more professional bodyguard services team members.
The closest I ever came to losing my life during a bodyguard services contract was because I didn’t know the body guard training level of your vip security team members. I vowed never to compromise my personal security ever again by making that mistake. Trust me, this is fantastic advice.

In my experience there are more than enough professional vip security bodyguarding officers working the global circuit to ensure you don’t have to work with a less than fully skilled security bodyguard.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #4

know Your Bodyguard Services Patron/s

One of the most difficult aspects of being a security bodyguard is getting to know your bodyguard services Patron/s. I still struggle sometimes with this concept despite having conducted hundreds of vip security body guard jobs for clients across four continents.

Even though I produce painstakingly researched profile and threat assessments for every individual bodyguard services Patron and vip security contract, it is always difficult to get under the hood to really get to know your bodyguard services Patron/s. When I deliver body guard training for any international bodyguard company I always advise every fee paying security bodyguard in attendance that most bodyguard services Patron/s will only tell you half the story. By definition when a Patron hires the vip security services of bodyguarding professionals, it is likely there has been an actual, or a perceived threat against that Patron or a member of his/her family or business associate.

Paying for bodyguarding professionals from any of professional bodyguard company is a costly undertaking and it is often this reason why bodyguard services Patron/s fail to provide all the relevant information. These vip security Patrons, many of who hail from an aggressive business entrepreneur background have been disciplined in how to save revenue. If they dumb down the threat against them, they know the bodyguard company will assign less vip security bodyguarding professionals to protect them. Although it is obviously false economy and it’s pre-programmed for failure I have seen this happen with a number of vip security Patrons.

The place to cut costs is not when compiling what should be your well researched profile and threat assessments prior to vip security contract engagement for any of the body guard jobs you undertake. If you scrimp at this early stage you will miss the finest opportunity to get know your bodyguard services Patron/s.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #5

Know When To Say No To VIP Security Body Guard Jobs
When bodyguarding, trainee’s first contact a bodyguard company to enrol on their body guard training programmes with a view to attaining body guard jobs, it is very tempting to say yes to every bodyguard services contract that lands in your lap. The chance to snatch back their body guard training outlay and a blinkered ambition to complete their first bodyguard services contract are the main two reasons why they say yes to every contract. In reality, although it’s often the toughest decision to take, it is right at this early stage of your vip security calling when you have to know when to say no to some vip security body guard jobs.

I am the first to admit when I first started my vip security career my underlying ambition was to prove myself as a security bodyguard. This forced me to say yes to many bodyguard services contracts when I should have refused. It’s one of those lessons that most body guard training programmes fail to teach you. In reality if you don’t learn to know when to say no to vip security body guard jobs your career could be cut short before it’s had a chance to professionally develop.
It is no great secret to close protection security specialists that many teams of bodyguarding officers who have scrimped when conducting their own body guard training foolishly accept bodyguard services contracts which sadly delivered fatal consequences on various body guard jobs.

The requirement of skills and abilities of bodyguards have also changed in line with the needs of the industry. Continuous training of the bodyguards and close protection security professionals is therefore necessary and many academies and training institutes are offering a wide variety of courses for bodyguards. These courses teach different techniques of close protection and are helpful in upgrading skills of security professionals.

However one of the most important Close Protection Courses is the course in threat assessment which focuses on assessing and managing different types of threats to celebrities and important public figures. Threat assessment involves working closely with the client to understand the environment in which the client operates and the people and circumstances which can increase the clients’ vulnerability to life threatening risks. Many academies teach scientific methods and make use of equipment which is used to interpret and carry out a detailed analysis of potential threats to the client. A risk mitigation plan is then devised and implemented by the team of close protection security professionals. The risk assessment exercise may also involve working with law enforcement agencies to pre-empt the potential threat and as a measure of loss prevention. Threat assessment involves proactive working at all stages and requires a high level of alertness.

Dr. Mark D. Yates, The British American Security Expert, has helped close protection security professionals get the most appropriate and customized training in threat assessment and has also conducted a wide range of bodyguard courses and close protection training programmes which are well received by the security industry world wide. Threat assessment training is an invaluable investment as it adds tremendous value to the career of every bodyguard.

Full of pride, the Monarch’s Bodyguards stood to attention on parade in front of Queen Elizabeth to mark the 500th anniversary of their foundation. Although currently tasked with mostly State ceremonial duties, this elite fraternity of the Monarch’s Bodyguards and close protection officers are probably bodyguard members of the world’s oldest surviving close protection unit.

King Henry VIII was no stranger to controversy and this controversy obviously led to credible threats being made against him. His enemies were global and this was a primary factor in his formation of the Monarch’s Bodyguards who were tasked with providing security and close protection to Royalty. Many historians state that this task was conducted by the Knights Templar. However reading back through history the Knights Templar fell into the provision of security and close protection by default whereas the Monarch’s Bodyguards were specifically formed By King Henry to provide close protection and security for Royalty.

The Monarch’s Bodyguards are believed to have last performed royal protective service duties in the 17th century. All security close protection duties conducted for the Monarchy are provided by specialised divisions of the British police and security services.
Dr. Mark D. Yates The British Security Expert from www.closeprotectiongz.com advises that currently the Monarch’s Bodyguards Troop consists of 32 close protection ceremonial officers. 5 officers and 27 gentlemen. With the exception of the Captain they are all former Army or Royal Marines officers,

They wear a distinctive uniform of scarlet jackets and gold helmets topped off with swan feathers.During the 500th anniversary inspection Queen Elizabeth praised the Monarch’s Bodyguards loyalty to the Monarchy.

Footnote: Dr. Mark D. Yates, the British American Security Expert states:

The Monarch’s Bodyguards provide proof that a professional close protection Troop or Corp can survive for centuries by adopting the highest principles of honour and loyalty. Every aspiring individual bodyguard or security close protection officer involved in close protection duties should be proud of this British heritage and strive to maintain a similar high moral compass.

Know The Limitations of Bodyguarding & Your bodyguard company: 20 years involvement in all aspects of extremely high risk security, bodyguard services as a security bodyguard and adjunct instructor of body guard training for just about every joint venture bodyguard company in over 42 countries. I’ve acknowledged that one of the best kept vip security secrets is to know the limitations of bodyguarding and your bodyguard company. I cannot stress how important this is. I have repeatedly listened in to associate vip security instructors employed on a full time salaried basis for an individual bodyguard company informing vip security students about how their body guard training is the best in the world and how their bodyguarding teachers are the SAS equivalent of the security, bodyguard services industry.

In every bodyguard company mentioned above, the dismal level of body guard training offered to these bodyguarding trainees was miserably ineffective to prime them for anything above mundane low risk body guard jobs within the domestic security, bodyguard services industry.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #2

Know Your VIP Security Enemies Before You Consider A Security Bodyguard Vocation: From just about every International bodyguard company delivering body guard training I have ever witnessed, I’ve only come across two within the bodyguard services industry who teach their bodyguarding students to know your vip security enemies before you consider a security bodyguard vocation. The relevance of this issue should be reiterated as I have witnessed many a bodyguard company churning out hordes of vip security bodyguarding officers, whose only focus is on the most observable enemy.

In the real world of bodyguard services every security bodyguard knows that the greatest problem faced by most bodyguarding officers comes from one of the other four enemies, i.e. The first enemy of every security bodyguard is him/her self. The second enemy is the spouse, girl/boy friend and family members of the bodyguard services team members. Third is the local administration of the country in which you are conducting your bodyguard services detail. Fourth is your vip security client, VIP or Principal. The fifth enemy of every security bodyguard is what every security expert deems the understandable enemy in the bodyguard services threat assessment, typically a terrorist, organised crime organisation are the obvious executor.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #3

Know The Body Guard Training Level Of Your VIP Security Team Members
Throughout my bodyguard services livelihood I have survived many professionally coordinated attacks against VIP’s under my protection. However the closest I ever came to losing my life was in a dark alley frequented by Soviet Troops and Soviet Mafia Hoods in Latvia. At the time I was working for a bodyguard company as a freelance bodyguard services unit commander. Most of the vip security bodyguarding officers under my command had graduated as a security bodyguard from some of the world’s most reputable body guard training organisations or an individual specialist bodyguard company.

However I was frequently tasked with leading teams of bodyguarding officers who were hired in on an as and when required basis. One particular bodyguard company was supposed to checked their bodyguarding certification and as a matter of basic security should have identified they were highly skilled participants of body guard training. In the pursuit of short term greed this particular bodyguard company failed in their due diligence prior to hiring these bodyguarding officers. Afterwards these terribly trained bodyguarding officers caused many dangerous problems some of which breached security and the personal safety of the more professional bodyguard services team members.

The closest I ever came to losing my life during a bodyguard services contract was because I didn’t know the body guard training level of your vip security team members. I vowed never to compromise my personal security ever again by making that mistake. Trust me, this is fantastic advice.

In my experience there are more than enough professional vip security bodyguarding officers working the global circuit to ensure you don’t have to work with a less than fully skilled security bodyguard.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #4

Know Your Bodyguard Services Patron/s: One of the most difficult aspects of being a security bodyguard is getting to know your bodyguard services Patron/s. I still struggle sometimes with this concept despite having conducted hundreds of vip security body guard jobs for clients across four continents.

Even though I produce painstakingly researched profile and threat assessments for every individual bodyguard services Patron and vip security contract, it is always difficult to get under the hood to really get to know your bodyguard services Patron/s. When I deliver body guard training for any international bodyguard company I always advise every fee paying security bodyguard in attendance that most bodyguard services Patron/s will only tell you half the story. By definition when a Patron hires the vip security services of bodyguarding professionals, it is likely there has been an actual, or a perceived threat against that Patron or a member of his/her family or business associate.

Paying for bodyguarding professionals from any of professional bodyguard company is a costly undertaking and it is often this reason why bodyguard services Patron/s fail to provide all the relevant information. These vip security Patrons, many of who hail from an aggressive business entrepreneur background have been disciplined in how to save revenue. If they dumb down the threat against them, they know the bodyguard company will assign less vip security bodyguarding professionals to protect them. Although it is obviously false economy and it’s pre-programmed for failure I have seen this happen with a number of vip security Patrons.

The place to cut costs is not when compiling what should be your well researched profile and threat assessments prior to vip security contract engagement for any of the body guard jobs you undertake. If you scrimp at this early stage you will miss the finest opportunity to get know your bodyguard services Patron/s.

Bodyguard Top 5 Professional Secrets #5

Know When To Say No To VIP Security Body Guard Jobs: When bodyguarding, trainee’s first contact a bodyguard company to enrol on their body guard training programmes with a view to attaining body guard jobs, it is very tempting to say yes to every bodyguard services contract that lands in your lap. The chance to snatch back their body guard training outlay and a blinkered ambition to complete their first bodyguard services contract are the main two reasons why they say yes to every contract. In reality, although it’s often the toughest decision to take, it is right at this early stage of your vip security calling when you have to know when to say no to some vip security body guard jobs.

I am the first to admit when I first started my vip security career my underlying ambition was to prove myself as a security bodyguard. This forced me to say yes to many bodyguard services contracts when I should have refused. It’s one of those lessons that most body guard training programmes fail to teach you. In reality if you don’t learn to know when to say no to vip security body guard jobs your career could be cut short before it’s had a chance to professionally develop.

It is no great secret to close protection security specialists that many teams of bodyguarding officers who have scrimped when conducting their own body guard training foolishly accept bodyguard services contracts which sadly delivered fatal consequences on various body guard jobs.

One of the major challenges faced by the close protection security industry today is the risk of close protection friendly fire which is causing enormous amount of damage to the reliability of close protection security operations. Dr. Mark D. Yates, the British American Security Expert and Bodyguard Training Consultant states; this is due to lack of professional close protection security training offered by cowboy bodyguards.

As militants and attackers adopt changing tactics continuously, it becomes necessary for bodyguards to remain abreast with the latest in security training and get themselves trained from global leading industry expert Bodyguard Training Consultants like Dr. Mark D. Yates, The British American Security Expert.

In absence of a systematic, professional and advanced training, bodyguards may not be able to perform to their potential. There has been increase in the number of cases of close protection friendly fire in different parts of the world including many recent cases in the middle-east.

Bodyguard Training Consultant and The British American Security Expert, Dr. Mark D. Yates at www.closeprotectiongz.com through unique training systems, ensures bodyguards are not only exposed to actual and simulated conditions of the attacks, but he also trains them in increasing their level of observation, consciousness, proactive-ness and reflex security actions, which results in heightened awareness and alertness. His specialised close protection training also includes use of live aids and a continuous update on technological security products and service advances which helps reduce unnecessary incidents of close protection friendly fire.

The team of close protection security professionals consists of bodyguards with expertise in different areas like driving, martial arts, bomb disposal and many others. The services of a bodyguard expert are therefore much sought after by the important public figures as they need bodyguards with different skills.

A bodyguard expert guides clients on the specific nature of close protection along with the skills required by bodyguards for different situations. Dr. Mark D. Yates, The British American Security Expert and Bodyguard Training Consultant provides expert guidance on the close protection needs of clients with varied needs. Dr. Mark D. Yates, The British American Security Expert, is a renowned Bodyguard Training Consultant and suggests effective close protection security solutions to the clients and also recommends appropriate professional bodyguard training to the close protection security professionals delivered by www.closeprotectiongz.com.

As there cannot be a common recipe for all clients for their close protection security needs, a bodyguard expert works closely with each client to minutely study and understand his or her security needs in different situations. A detailed threat assessment plan is then devised which also includes the formation of a team of bodyguards with multiple skills.

A stalker is any person who wilfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person AND who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person who is the target of the threat in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family AND made with the apparent ability to carry out the threat.

Who Can Become A Victim?

ANYONE, regardless of race, creed, wealth, and religious sect.

Credible Threat

• A credible threat can be oral, written or implied by a pattern of conduct.

• It is a threat of bodily harm to a victim or a victim’s immediate family.

• I t does not include threats to take legal action, embarrass or ruin a victim’s reputation.

Specific Intent

• Specific Intent means to place the victim in fear for their personal safety or place the immediate family in fear for their safety.

• It is not necessary to prove intent to actually carry out the threat.

• Being in prison and continually making these threats is not a defence, and will mean a longer term in prison.

Note from: Dr. Mark D. Yates The British American Security Expert at www.closeprotectiongz.com
After conducting extensive training in counter stalking and stalkers modus operandi for close protection officers I suggest the following …

Types of stalkers

Erotomania Suspect usually knows the victim through the media only.
Approximately 5% of stalkers.

Love Obsessional Suspect usually loves or admires the victim, but no relationship has developed. 26% of stalkers.

Simple Obsessional Usually occurs after the break up of a relationship.
Most common form of stalking with 65%.

False Victimisation Syndrome Fictitious campaign of stalking or harassment developed by the victim. 2% of stalkers.

Statistics about Stalkers.

89% of people say Elvis is dead, 1% ask who he is, 6% say he’s still alive and 4% don’t know. God help us if we don’t know who is dead and who isn’t.

• 25% – 30% of people who stalk will harm their victim.

• 2% of people who stalk will kill the victim.

• Americans who are attacked run a 1 in 10,000 chance of being killed during the act of violence.

• Stalking Victims have a 1 in 50 chance of being killed in America.

The statistics show that the majority of stalking victims are women who are being stalked by men who wish to either re-establish or initiate a relationship with them. The women, in general, are outgoing and friendly (or at least perceived themselves as so prior to being stalked), are between the ages of 26-46 and have a higher educational background than the general public. The results also illustrate that men are also stalking victims with approximately 10% of the victims being male.

Not all stalkers seek a relationship, some are bent on revenge. The majority of stalking victims have experienced acts violent in nature. Usually damage to property, but not against the person. This intrusion into the victim’s lives leaves long term, damaging psychological effects.

What Can A Stalking Victim Do

• Do your best to safely avoid all contact with the stalker.

• Inform family, friends, and co-workers of what is going on in regard to the stalking.

• Report the stalking to the police and follow their advice.

• Keep an accurate journal or log of all incidents connected to the stalking.

• Keep all letters, packages, taped telephone messages, etc. received from the stalker.