Close Protection Training HQ

PART 3

This guide will provide you with all the information you need to be able to make your own educated judgement on the following issues.

• Part 1) What close protection is, and what type of person you need to be;
• Part 2) The two main environments for close protection, and
• Part 3) What training and licences you will need to operate in close protection

Training and Licences needed:

The activities of providing Close Protection is regulated. You will be required, in addition to any specialist training, to hold a Close Protection SIA (Security Industry Authority) licence for any work within the UK or for a UK operating company. The cost of the licence application as of 2012 is around  £250 and is valid for three years. You should note that this fee is for the application and is not refundable.

You may be able to claim a tax rebate on part of the fee (around £44). More information can be found on the HMRC website here.

“A Close Protection licence is required when guarding one or more individuals against assault or against injuries that might be suffered in consequence of the unlawful conduct of others. This applies if your services are supplied for the purposes of or in connection with any contract to a consumer.” SIA Website

The licence requirements

• You are 18 year of age or older;
• Pass an Identity Check;
• Pass a Criminal Record Check (CRB);
• Attended an approved Close Protection Training Course and achieved an approved Qualification;
• The Qualification required is a Level 3 in Close Protection. The guided hours of training are 146hrs (138hrs in Close Protection and 8hrs in Conflict Management).
• You must also hold a valid First Aid certificate (First Aid at work)

There are quite a few UK based organisations providing this training for individuals. You are advised to look into the organisation itself and those who run it. The training is only as good as the instructors, and some are better than others, but that is a whole other article on its own.  Expect to pay around £1700 plus travel, and expect about 4 to 6 weeks of course depending on the content.

Some individuals seeking to work in close protection may also hold an exemption from the training course (basically as you have done a similar course already).  Some of these are SAS Body Guard Course, RMP CP Course, Met or Special Branch Royal or Close Protection Course or Police National Close Protection Course. You will be required to undergo an assessment of skills and must have passed your previous employment course inside the last three years.