Bodyguards

The role of bodyguard or "close protection officer" is highly misunderstood. In action films, threats are obvious: ski-mask wearing gunmen fire at the client from a speeding black Suburban truck. In real life, threats may be harder to assess. If a crowd of unarmed protesters pushes towards the client and blocks access to the client's car and the building he is being escorted to, this poses a threat. The client is caught outside of the two "safe zones" (car and building). However, bodyguards have no legal right to use force in a public place unless they or the client is being attacked. The bodyguards will call the police, but they may not arrive for ten to twenty minutes. This interesting new book examines the different types of bodyguard - police, military and civilian; their training; typical roles; the equipment they use; weapons; bodyguards and the law; evasive driving; and life as a bodyguard.