Close Protection Officer Hire UK: Costs, Vetting and Deployment
Quick Answer
Hiring a close protection officer in the UK costs priced per assignment after a written assessment. Every officer must hold a current SIA Close Protection licence and, with a credible provider, BS 7858:2019 vetting.
Key Takeaways
- Executives with documented workplace or litigation threat
- Public figures managing media and fan exposure
- Families with school-run and travel concerns
- Pricing is indicative and confirmed in a written quote before deployment.
- All officers are SIA licensed and BS 7858:2019 vetted.
What close protection officer hire Actually Covers
Officer selection is matched to the environment rather than to physical presence: a boardroom principal is better served by a low-profile operative in business dress than by an obvious escort.
The practical question is not whether protection is available but what level is proportionate. Over-buying draws attention; under-buying leaves the predictable gaps — arrivals, departures and transitions — uncovered.
Indicative 2026 Pricing
| Requirement | Basis | Indicative UK price |
|---|---|---|
| Single CPO, 12-hour shift | London & South East | priced per assignment |
| Two-officer team with driver | Per day | priced per assignment |
| Short-notice mobilisation | Subject to availability | Confirmed in written quote |
Prices exclude VAT. Travel outside the M25, congestion and clean-air charges, parking and accommodation are billed at cost with receipts.
How an Assignment Runs
Standards Every Assignment Meets
- SIA-licensed officers, licence numbers supplied in writing before deployment
- BS 7858:2019 five-year employment, financial and criminal screening
- Written threat and risk assessment before the first shift
- public liability and employer's liability insurance
- Signed NDAs covering employees and any subcontracted personnel
- 24/7 control room answering at any hour
Our published security standards and insurance and accreditations set out exactly what is verified and how you can check it.
Getting the Specification Right
Ask any provider the same five questions and price differences explain themselves: are officers directly employed or subcontracted; what SIA licence category does each hold; is a written risk assessment included; what are the insurance limits; and who answers the phone at 03:00 on a Sunday. Compare the answers, not the headline rate.
Speak to a Senior Protection Advisor
A senior advisor accepts confidential enquiries 24/7, 24 hours a day, and you receive an itemised written quote the same day.
- Phone: 020 3488 5714
- WhatsApp: 07460 194129
- Email: enquiries.vip.protection.service@mail.com
Related Services and Reading
Close Protection · Executive Protection · VIP Security · Residential Security · Event Security · Security Chauffeurs · Security Risk Assessment · Insurance & Accreditations · Case Studies · Research & Data · ContactFrequently Asked Questions
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About the Author
VIP Protection Services Operations Team
Close Protection Operations & Security Consultancy
Written and reviewed by our operations desk — SIA-licensed close protection officers and security consultants with over 20 years of combined experience delivering executive protection, corporate security and residential security teams across the UK. Every article is fact-checked against current SIA licensing rules, BS 7858:2019 screening standards and live deployment experience.
- SIA Close Protection licensed
- BS 7858:2019 screened (5-year vetting)
- Documented assignment planning
“Discreet, impeccably presented and completely reliable. They planned the detail properly rather than simply putting people on the ground — which is exactly what we needed.”
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