Expert Comment · London · 25 August 2026
VIP Protection Services has published a buyer's guide to selecting a close protection company in the United Kingdom, setting out the verification steps that separate professional providers from resellers.
“Ask for the licence number of the officer who will actually attend, ask to see the insurance certificate, and ask what the written assignment instructions will say. Three questions filter most of the market.” — spokesperson, VIP Protection Services
Verify licensing first
Every close protection officer working in the UK must hold a valid SIA close protection licence. Licence status can be checked on the SIA public register, and clients should check the licence of the officer who will actually attend, not the company principal.
Beware providers who cannot name the deploying officer in advance, or who substitute at short notice without notification.
- • SIA close protection licence, verified by number
- • BS 7858 personnel screening
- • Public and employers' liability insurance certificates
- • Written assignment instructions and reporting
- • Documented complaints procedure
- • UK GDPR-compliant handling of personal data
Ask how they assess before they staff
A professional provider produces a written threat and risk assessment before proposing officer numbers. A provider who quotes a team size from a phone call is guessing, and the guess is usually upward.
The assessment should be readable, specific to the client, and should include recommendations that do not generate revenue for the provider.
Test discretion and confidentiality
Look at how the provider talks about existing clients. Named clients, recognisable case studies or social media content featuring assignments are all failures of the core product.
Confidentiality obligations should be contractual, extend to officers individually, and survive termination.
Understand pricing properly
The cost of close protection depends on officer numbers, duration, location, assessed risk and any vehicles or travel. We send an itemised written quotation after a short confidential assessment, usually the same working day.
Very low quotations typically indicate unlicensed personnel, uninsured operation or subcontracting to an unvetted third party. Very high quotations should be justified by the written assessment.
Check operational depth
Ask what happens if the assigned officer falls ill mid-assignment, whether there is a 24/7 operations contact, and how incidents are reported.
Depth of roster and clarity of command are what distinguish a company from an individual with a licence and a website.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a close protection company is legitimate?
Verify the deploying officer's SIA licence on the public register, request insurance certificates, confirm BS 7858 screening, and ask to see the written assignment instructions and complaints procedure.
How much should close protection cost in the UK?
The cost of close protection in the UK depends on officer numbers, duration, location, assessed risk and any vehicles or travel. We send an itemised written quotation after a short confidential assessment, usually the same working day.
Is a cheap bodyguard a red flag?
Usually. Rates materially below market generally indicate unlicensed personnel, absent insurance, or unvetted subcontracting.
Should a security company name its clients?
No. Naming clients or publishing identifiable assignment content is a breach of the confidentiality that clients are paying for.
What should be in a close protection contract?
Scope, licensing and screening standards, insurance limits, reporting obligations, confidentiality terms, substitution rules, cancellation terms and escalation contacts.
Notes to editors
VIP Protection Services is an SIA-licensed close protection and private security company headquartered in London and operating nationwide. All operational officers hold valid Security Industry Authority licences and are screened to BS 7858.
020 3488 5714
enquiries.vip.protection.service@mail.com
This release may be reproduced with attribution to VIP Protection Services and a link to the original release.