How do I Hire a Bodyguard in the UK

Most people haven’t had to hire a bodyguard in the UK before, so it could be a daunting process.

However, if you hire a bodyguard in the UK, it’s probably because you are at risk, or potentially could be at risk, from some form of threat. So daunting as it may be, it’s a necessary requirement.

Yours and your family’s safety is priceless. So it’s vital that you get the right kind of security support to help you manage your risk. The company that you speak to should walk you through the process from start to finish, and ensure that you are clear on exactly what the bodyguard, or bodyguard team can do to support your safety. But importantly, you play a vital part in ensuring that you get the right level of security support.

One of the first questions that the company will ask you is why do you think that you require hire a bodyguard in the UK? It’s really important that you are open and honest, and give the company any details that you think will help them to establish what the risk is. The better companies will have risk analysts within their business who specialise in establishing the potential risk towards someone. The risk assessment forms the basis of any security job, because if you don’t fully understand exactly what the risk is, you can’t establish what sort of bodyguard, or bodyguard team may be required.

The availability of bodyguards can be location dependent, with the better availability being in the larger UK cities. Although it’s very normal for bodyguards to work all over the country, and internationally if you need support overseas. So the company you are speaking to will need to know where you require the bodyguard support, and whether it will be in one location, or if you’ll be travelling around.

Once the company understand your risk level, and where you need the bodyguard, they’ll then ask you how long you need the bodyguard for, what times, and when you need the service to start. Most companies offer a service on either a full day rate for shorter term tasks of around under two weeks, and some may offer a half day rate where you only need bodyguard support for half a day or a few hours. Where you need longer term bodyguard support, most companies will do a weekly or monthly rate, which will be at a reduced cost compared to the full day rate price for shorter term tasks. For guidance on how much it costs to hire a bodyguard, take a look at this article - How much does it cost to hire a bodyguard.

The company will also need to know, for the longer tasks, where the bodyguard will be accommodated. You might want them with you at your residence, or in a hotel with you if you’re travelling, or visiting the UK. Or you might want them just to travel to your location daily, then leave you at the end of the day. Just be aware that you might incur accommodation, travel, and food costs also.

Once the company establish why you need a bodyguard, the standard of bodyguard required due to the risk level, what location you need support, and for how long, they will then be able to start contacting their network of bodyguards to see who might have availability to support you. The good companies will have a solid network of operators who they have worked with before and can call upon to support you. So they shouldn’t have to advertise it and use someone that they haven’t worked with before, or that hasn’t come to them on recommendation. 

The better companies will recruit a bodyguard bespoke to your needs. Firstly, and the priority, the bodyguard must be of the right standard, and experience level, to manage the risk towards you. But it’s also important that the bodyguard suits your personal image, brand and reputation. So the company should ask you what size of bodyguard you would prefer. Some people want a larger, more athletic style bodyguard, whereas some people prefer a much more discreet bodyguard. Then equally important, you should be asked what you would like the bodyguard to be wearing. Some people want the bodyguard dressed similar to them, whereas other people want the bodyguard to be easy and obvious to identify.

All companies should conduct a license check on the bodyguard, and check their references as a minimum. But the company should also ask you if you would like any further vetting conducted, and if so what it is. For example, an enhanced DBS check if the bodyguard will be working with children.

At this stage, the company will have enough detail to start drafting the contract for you to sign. The contract will set out the scope of service, outlining exactly what you require, the cost, and the terms and conditions of providing the service for you.

Once the company has established all of the details outlined in this article, and you have signed the contract, the company will then draft an assignment instruction which outlines all of the points that you have discussed, and puts it into one document that the bodyguard, or bodyguard team, can use to familiarise themselves with the task that they will be conducting to support you. Plus the threat assessment on the person who is causing you the risk will be in this document, and the H&S risk assessment to ensure that the bodyguard stays as safe as possible whilst conducting the job. Prior to receiving the assignment instruction, the bodyguard will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement to confirm that they will keep any information relating to you or the task confidential.

Once your bodyguard support starts, the company should stay in regular contact with you to make sure that you are getting the right level of service that you require, and for you to update them on any changes to your itinerary which will be passed on to the bodyguard.

Hiring a bodyguard in the UK can be quite daunting, but with the right company supporting you, it can make your difficult situation easier to manage.

For our latest article on how to hire a bodyguard in London, click here.

Article written by Tom Richmond, Managing Director of Security and Safety Solutions

If this article has raised questions about your own security, find out more about our close protection and bodyguard services or our security consultancy - or get in touch to discuss your requirements directly.