Close Protection · UK and Overseas
Close Protection and Bodyguard Services in the UK
Discreet, SIA licensed close protection from experienced officers, including former military and police, who plan ahead and keep a low profile, so you or your principal can move with less risk and less disruption.
Free and with no obligation.
Close Protection Services
SIA-Licensed Close Protection, UK-Wide
Close protection, also called executive protection, is discreet personal security for people at higher risk of harm, harassment or unwanted attention.
Double Check Security Group provides SIA licensed close protection officers and bodyguards across the UK for individuals, families, executives and public figures, with every officer vetted to the BS 7858 standard. Get in touch for a free quote.
What Close Protection Is
What Does Close Protection Actually Involve?
Close protection is personal security for someone at risk. Also called executive protection, it means a trained officer, often shortened to CPO or bodyguard, who looks after your personal safety as you go about your day.
The real work is not the visible presence. It is the thinking behind it: assessing the threat, planning routes and venues in advance, and staying alert so a problem is avoided rather than handled. A good day is a quiet one, where nothing happens because the risk was managed before it arrived.
Two things are worth knowing about how this works in the UK. Close protection officers here are unarmed, because private security cannot carry firearms by law, so protection relies on planning, awareness and positioning. And a CPO has no more legal powers than any other member of the public. What they bring is training, judgement and the composure to act quickly and within the law.
Who It's For
Who Close Protection Is For
Close protection is not only for the famous. Anyone facing a genuine risk or unwanted attention can benefit, and our clients are more varied than most people expect.
Discreet Protection for Every Client
Who We Protect
- High-net-worth individuals and families
- Company executives, especially those travelling or in the public eye
- Celebrities, performers and other public figures
- Athletes and people with a high profile online
- Politicians, diplomats and visiting dignitaries
- Anyone dealing with a stalker, a credible threat or a difficult separation
If your wealth, profile, work or situation puts you at risk, close protection gives you a way to carry on with more confidence and privacy.
What Our Service Covers
Every assignment is built around you, so the mix depends on your needs. In practice, our close protection service covers:
Personal and Residential
- Personal protectionA close protection officer with you for daily movements, work or public appearances.
- Residential and estate securityProtecting your home and family, on its own or alongside personal cover.
Travel and Transport
- Secure transportTrained security drivers and planned, low-profile travel.
- Travel and international securityAdvance planning and cover for trips at home and abroad.
Events and Surveillance
- Event and VIP protectionKeeping you safe at events, from private functions to public appearances.
- Protective surveillanceDiscreet, low-visibility cover for when an obvious presence is not wanted.
Some needs sit alongside our other work. For securing an event itself, rather than protecting one person at it, see our event security, and for protecting an office or workforce, our corporate security covers the premises.
Compliance and Vetting
Licensed, Vetted and Experienced Officers
Every officer we deploy holds the required Level 3 Close Protection licence to work legally as a close protection operative in the UK. Each officer is also screened to BS 7858, the British security vetting standard covering five years of employment history, references, criminal-record checks and relevant financial background.
Our officers are trained in first aid and selected for the judgement, discretion and composure that close protection demands. Many come from military and police backgrounds, bringing extensive operational experience to every assignment.
That experience supports careful advance planning, situational awareness and a proportionate response to risk, whether the assignment involves an individual, family, executive team or visiting delegation.
As a company, we are ISO 9001 certified, SafeContractor approved and committed to the Armed Forces Covenant. Every officer is fully insured while working on assignment.
Standards and Commitments
The Process
How It Works
Good protection is planned, not improvised. Every assignment follows the same clear process.
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A confidential consultation
We talk through your situation, your routine and your concerns in complete confidence, then assess the real risks you face.
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Advance planning
Your routes are planned, venues checked and travel prepared ahead of time, so the day runs smoothly and quietly.
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Discreet deployment
Your officer stays close and alert while keeping a low profile, fitting around your life rather than interrupting it.
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Ongoing review
As your routine, profile or circumstances change, the plan is adjusted, so your cover keeps pace with the risk.
Client feedback
What Our CP Clients Say
Reliable service is measured by the people who experience it every day. See what clients say about working with us
Close Protection Pricing
How Close Protection Is Priced
Close protection is priced per assignment because no two assignments are the same. A single officer for one evening and a full team covering a family and a residence are very different jobs, so we quote confidentially once we understand what you need.
Your cost depends on the requirements of your assignment
- Level of risk
- The level and nature of the risk involved in your situation.
- Number of officers
- How many close protection officers your situation calls for, from a single officer to a full team.
- Length of cover
- How long you need protection and whether the assignment is one-off, short-term or ongoing.
- Additional protection
- Whether the assignment includes secure transport, domestic or international travel, or residential security cover.
After a confidential consultation and risk assessment, you receive a clear quote built around your needs. Nothing is shared without your consent.
Why Clients Choose Us
Why Clients Choose Us
Clients stay with us for reasons that matter in this line of work: discretion, experience and people they can trust.
Trust and confidentiality come first. Every assignment is handled discreetly, from the initial enquiry through to the conduct of the officers protecting you.
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Discretion first
Confidentiality runs through everything we do, from the first enquiry to the way our officers carry themselves. Your privacy is the point.
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Experienced officers
Our teams are chosen for judgement and calm, and many bring military and police experience to the role.
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The same trusted people
Low staff turnover means continuity, so you are protected by officers who know you and your routine, not a different face each time.
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Planning, not just presence
Real protection is the work that goes into the assessment and the planning, which is what actually keeps a day uneventful.
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Around the clock
Behind every officer stands a 24-hour control centre, every day of the year.
UK and Worldwide Coverage
Close Protection Across the UK and Worldwide
We provide discreet close protection services throughout the UK and internationally. Whether you need one officer for a single engagement, ongoing personal protection or a full team covering travel, family and residential security, every assignment is planned around your risk, routine and destination.
Our officers support clients during domestic and international travel, business trips, public appearances, private events and extended overseas assignments. Where local knowledge, secure transport or additional resources are required, these are built into the risk assessment and operational plan.
Every enquiry is handled in complete confidence.
Unsure whether we can support your destination or itinerary? Contact us confidentially and we will assess the location, travel requirements and appropriate level of cover.
Common Questions
Common Questions About Close Protection
Clear answers about bodyguards, close protection officers, travel, short-notice cover and how assignments are planned.
020 3794 8182
Is close protection the same as hiring a bodyguard?
Close protection and bodyguard describe the same role, so the terms are often used interchangeably. In practice, a good close protection officer does more than provide a visible presence, adding risk assessment, advance planning and discreet day-to-day judgement.
Are your bodyguards armed?
No. Private close protection officers do not carry firearms in the UK, so our UK officers are unarmed. Protection relies on planning, awareness, positioning and early action to avoid trouble rather than on weapons.
Who can hire a close protection officer?
Anyone facing a genuine risk can hire a close protection officer. Close protection is not limited to celebrities or public figures, and clients can include private individuals, executives and families dealing with threats, harassment or unwanted attention.
Can I request a female close protection officer?
Yes. Female close protection officers are available and are often preferred for families with children or situations where a lower-profile presence helps. We match the officer to you, your routine and the requirements of the assignment.
How much does close protection cost?
Close protection is priced per assignment because requirements vary considerably. Cost depends on the level of risk, the number of officers, how long you need cover and whether the assignment includes travel, residential protection or secure transport. You receive a confidential quote after a consultation and risk assessment.
Can you provide protection at short notice or for travel?
Often, yes. We can arrange close protection at short notice depending on the situation and officer availability. We also plan and provide protection for travel throughout the UK and worldwide. The sooner you contact us, the more time we have to assess the risks and plan the assignment properly.
Request a call back about your personal security requirements.
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