How to Hire an SIA Licensed Bodyguard in the UK (2026)
How to Hire an SIA-Licensed Bodyguard in the UK
Hiring a bodyguard is not like hiring a driver. The wrong choice can leak your address, embarrass your family or — at worst — increase your risk. Here is the 2026 process used by family offices and corporate clients to hire SIA-licensed close protection.
> Quick answer: Verify the SIA licence on the SIA online register, request BS 7858 vetting and DBS confirmation, check public liability insurance, sign a per-deployment NDA, and never hire on price alone.
The 7-Step Hiring Checklist
1. Verify SIA Licence
Check every officer's SIA Close Protection licence on services.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/rolp. Confirm it is current, not suspended, and matches the name on the contract.
2. Confirm Vetting Standards
- BS 7858 — UK security screening standard (5-year history)
- Enhanced DBS — Disclosure and Barring Service
- Right-to-work documentation
3. Verify Insurance
- public liability cover
- employer's liability
- Professional indemnity for advisory work
4. Check Operational Capability
- 24/7 operations room (not just a mobile phone)
- National coverage with reserve roster
- Female officers available
- Vehicle fleet (or partnered chauffeur company)
- Medical training (FREC 3 / first-aid at work)
5. Read the Contract Carefully
- Per-deployment NDA signed by every officer
- No sub-contracting without written approval
- Clear scope, hours, vehicles and team
- Cancellation terms (typically 24–48 hours)
- Data protection and confidentiality clauses
6. Run a Trial Deployment
A short, low-risk deployment (airport transfer, dinner, single event) reveals more than any reference. Watch for presentation, comms discipline, debus technique and post-event reporting.
7. Build a Relationship
The best protection comes from teams that know you. Where possible, retain a small core of officers rather than rotating strangers.
Questions to Ask Every Provider
- "Can I see SIA licence numbers for the officers you will deploy?"
- "Are all officers BS 7858 vetted?"
- "Do you sub-contract — and to whom?"
- "What is your public liability insurance limit?"
- "Do you sign per-deployment NDAs?"
- "What is your same-day mobilisation time in central London?"
- "Can I meet the team lead before deployment?"
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- Reluctance to share SIA licence numbers
- "Just send a deposit and we'll send someone"
- No written contract or insurance certificate
- Heavy social-media presence by officers
- "Ex-special forces" claims without verification
- Pricing significantly below market (pricing confirmed in a written quote or less for CP)
Realistic Pricing in 2026
See our bodyguard cost guide. Standard SIA CP priced per assignment/hour; experienced priced per assignment/hour. Daily rates pricing confirmed in a written quote.
📞 Call 020 3488 5714 for a confidential conversation.
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About the Author
Roy
Director, VIP Protection Services
Roy is a Director of VIP Protection Services, overseeing SIA-licensed close protection, executive protection, corporate security and residential security across the UK. He personally writes and reviews every guide, checking each against current SIA licensing rules and BS 7858:2019 screening standards before publication.
- SIA Close Protection licensed officers
- 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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