Major Imtiaz Ahmad Malik ( R ) Tamgha-i-Basalat, is a result-oriented Chief Executive of Reichert Security Services (Pvt) Ltd with vast experience at operational and strategic levels in the Pakistan Army. Managing international organizations and operations with proven success
(From Imtiaz Ahmad Malik, CEO of Reichert Security)
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) as per Wikipedia definition is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually high-ranking public officials or officers, wealthy people, and celebrities — from danger: generally theft, assault, kidnapping, assassination, harassment, loss of confidential information, threats, or other criminal offenses. The personnel team that protects a VIP is often referred to as the VIP’s security detail.
In layman’s language, Bodyguards are security operatives with superior experience and acumen having direct interaction with the principal. Bodyguards have specialized training. They are often a part of the security team or they perform independently. Bodyguards generally know the activity schedule of the principal and plan their moves and perform responsibilities accordingly. Bodyguards keep the information confidential.
Numerous people hire bodyguards for the reason that they are in the public eye and there could be several associated risks. For example, celebrities face risks from overzealous fans and from people who do not like their work as a belief. Similarly, some people always want to take advantage of a VIP, s wealth. Few hire bodyguards who are rich, famous, famed, and celebrated, hence feel threatened.
Revelries and jealousy could be another reason to feel at risk. There could be many reasons creating a real demand to have professional bodyguards for safety and security.
Prime Responsibility of a Bodyguard
The bodyguard must be a skilled person to prevent and mitigate threats. A bodyguard must be able to stand in front of danger. Bodyguards should assess the imminent threats, and security issues and devise a strategy to tackle the same. The work of a bodyguard is extensively challenging and sensitive.
Other skills
Correct assessment of the situation
- Reading the imminent
- Excellent judgment
- Common sense
- Must know teamwork and should be able to perform
- Stout and healthy
- Must have good training
- Weapon handling
- Preferably should have the driving
- Calculative decision-making ability
- Physical health
- Trustworthy
- Communication skills must be good
- Good height and must look like a
- Truthful
Uniform
Bodyguards that protect high-risk principals may wear safety Jackets or body armor. The bodyguard may also have other ballistic shields, such as Kevlar-reinforced bags/jackets. The principal does not have grave threats, a bodyguard can wear a normal but smart uniform comfortable enough to perform his duties without any trouble.
Weapons
Bodyguards can be armed, without armed depending upon the law of the land and the prevailing threats.
Difference between Bodyguard and the Bouncer
“As per Wikipedia, A bouncer (also known as a doorman or door supervisor)[1] is a type of security guard, employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs, cabaret clubs, strip clubs, casinos, hotels, billiard halls, restaurants, sporting events, or concerts. A bouncer’s duties are to provide security, to check legal age and drinking age, to refuse entry for intoxicated persons, and to deal with aggressive behavior or non-compliance with statutory or establishment rules”
Just to understand the difference between both “A bouncer is a security doorman who refuses entry to an individual or makes them leave an event if they are deemed to be too intoxicated or causing trouble. Bodyguards are employed to protect individuals from assassination attempts, kidnapping, or other attempts on their physical well-being”.
” The bodyguard is tasked with protecting one certain individual or a small group from physical harm. Unlike bouncers, they’re likely to be armed, where permitted by law”.
Difference between Security Guard and the Bodyguard
The difference between both is a bodyguard is responsible for one or more individuals whereas a security guard is responsible for one or more premises.
Who may require a bodyguard?
- Celebrities
- Government officials
- Wealthy individuals
- Individuals who have been threatened in some way
- Event Companies for the events like High Marriages
- People who are celebrating events at home (for temporary reasons).
- Anybody renowned
- The one who faces some risks due to any reasons
- Travelers
- Persons who need protection due to any reasons
Responsibilities / Duties
The major role of a bodyguard depends on several factors.
- The protection role is given by the security company or the security
- Can be assigned the responsibility of close
- Escort guarding role
- IED detection if the area is sensitive
- Surveillance and checking and monitoring are not to be under surveillance.
- Direct interaction with the principal
- Assessing potential threats
- Neutralizing any snatching, kidnapping, or harassment attempts to the
- Crowd control
How Bodyguard Squad Works – Concepts and Procedures
We will not discuss here the hiring procedures but purely will deliberate on concepts and work modalities. The concept is to know the threats and associated risks to the principal. Bodyguard gets the planned schedule of all activities well before time. A team leader or in an individual capacity makes the plan for the safety and security of his principal or the group. Arranges transportation, assess the route clearance, destination hazards, security arrangements, location of safe havens, etc.
He plans his activities keeping in view the principal activities if the principal is traveling, he would see whether the Principal is traveling by Railway or public transport or moving by plane, where he has to attend the meetings, etc. He will ensure that his coordination about safety and security is complete. He keeps all confidential.
When the principal exposes himself to a range of risks mingling up in public or participating in rallies and addressing a large audience, the team leader of the bodyguard squad plans for foolproof protection.
The bodyguard team leader seeing the itinerary plans one or more bodyguards for hanging over security to check whether the route is completely clear or not.
Clearance of Car / Vehicles
The bodyguard clears the car /vehicle for the principal and does not leave it unattended as searched car /vehicle has to be attended to by a member of a team. Unattended vehicles are exposed to multiple dangers like some IEDs can be attached etc.
The bodyguard ensures complete protection of the principal when he /she is coming to the car to travel. This moment is considered critical, as 60% of such attacks happen when the protected person is in or around the vehicle.
Traveling
Travel is a very crucial activity. It has to be planned by the team leader very carefully. Traveling is always vulnerable to many hazards like target killing, ambush, and other route perils. The bodyguard plans the halt points/ rest areas carefully. Ensures that choke points are cleared safely.
Destination
On arriving destination, two to three bodyguards (depending upon the total strength of the squad) dismount from the vehicles and ensure that the site is cleared from a safety and security point of view. When they confirm, and give the okay to other team members, they open the door and take the client to the final destination using flank procedures. If the principal is moving like a shopping plaza or moves to some of the playing grounds whose entries are open, the bodyguard team splits into small groups, few move with the principal, others perform monitoring around open entrances and exits while one or more remain around the vehicles. If the Principal is attending a marriage ceremony or a meeting in a secure building, bodyguards need to secure him keeping their distance and should look after the entrance gates, etc.
Return to secure location
In return, the same care is adopted as the duties performed during the move to the destination. Exiting from the vehicle and walking to the door exposes the client to risk, so the distance is kept as short as possible to cut down the time it takes to reach the door. The vehicle should be parked in the carriage, door locked due to security reasons.
The team leader will ensure the collection of weapons, will make them safe, and keep them in the designated place like the weapon kote or the weapon box.
Disclaimer
This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to me, and not necessarily to our company or our employees. There is no responsibility on my part for this article for not proving beneficial to anyone or causing any loss /damage when implemented
