Considerations for hiring executive protection services

VIPs, high-ranking politicians, and senior company executives represent considerable financial value as well as operational importance and are therefore regarded as assets whose protection should be entrusted to skilled professionals.

What are the dangers?

High-profile individuals of every kind will always be potential victims of serious crime such as kidnapping.  Politicians may also be specifically targeted by activist and terrorist groups.  VIPs and other public figures are frequently subject to the threatening attentions of stalkers. Senior executives could be at risk from commercial rivals.  In addition to people in these specific categories, high net worth individuals of any kind - even those perceived as such because of their visibility on social media -  are increasingly prone to the attentions of thieves, burglars and fraudsters.

What is executive protection?

Executive protection service is a highly specialized field within the private security industry. It is focused on high net worth or high-profile individuals. Executive protection (EP), is also often referred to as close protection. Executive protection agents are often trained in personal security, first aid, driving, and even firearms handling.

How do executive protection agents differ from bodyguards?

The popular conception of a bodyguard is of an individual who is appointed to accompany an individual and provide physical protection for the client in situations of potential threat or danger.  It is a largely reactive function and as such it is highly effective.  An executive protection agent takes a much broader strategic approach, analysing situations, assessing possibilities and anticipating outcomes. Where a bodyguard will get clients out of a dangerous situation, an executive protection agent will prevent them from getting into it in the first place.

Key considerations for hiring executive protection services

1. Genuine experience

You need to know who the agents have worked for previously, and how they have performed. Some details will be mentioned on the company website but you can also look at LinkedIn and in the media to dig deeper. If you ask for references, they should freely give them - with their clients' permission of course.

A quality company will look at employing former law-enforcement personnel, trained security professionals, or even armed forces veterans. These types of individuals do not need much training and will have years of experience to draw on.

Additionally, you will need to make sure that agents are used to working with well-known individuals and are not likely to be 'star-struck' as this will potentially reduce their effectiveness. They will know how to best protect a high-profile individual, no matter who they are.

2. Insurance

It is essential to make sure that any potential service provider has comprehensive insurance cover, appropriate to the parameters of the assignment and offering sufficient financial coverage. You need to satisfy yourself that they have professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask them to produce certificates of insurance so you can see for yourself that the policies are in force and will remain so for the duration of the engagement.

 3. Compliance and accreditation

 It is important to be sure that all regulatory compliance obligations are met and that the relevant licenses and accreditation are valid.  This will help you ascertain that the agents are experienced and knowledgeable professionals as well as demonstrating that their employers take the safety of all parties seriously. The recognised standards which apply to close protection services are BS8507-1 for operations within the UK and BS8507-2 outside the UK. It is highly advisable to use executive protection services which have the appropriate certification.

4. A proactive rather than a reactive approach

Your ideal solution is to work with a company that is proactive and considers threats in advance rather than just waiting to see what happens, hoping for the best, and dealing with everything on an ad-hoc basis. The best companies will have a comprehensive threat analysis and mitigation strategy and will look at ways in which they can avoid risk entirely wherever possible. They will identify and examine each threat and potential vulnerability and come up with a plan to deal with each one should they arise. Knowing that these plans are in place will make potentially risky situations much more tolerable and reduce anxieties.