So, what exactly is Close Protection? Put simply, it is the provision of personal protective security by human measures.
GSA recognise that providing protection means perhaps only temporarily, and in a small way, that new people are introduced into the client’s family dynamic. The GSA family are highly experienced in understanding this nuance and are sympathetic to it.
We will always involve the client to ensure that the right personnel are chosen, with the client having the opportunity to meet their protection security team prior to protection starting. Your GSA protection officer will have worked with clients across the globe. They understand the importance of operating discreetly and sensitively with a client and that not everything needs to be ‘hands-on’. They know the importance that clients attach to private time with family and friends, and this is reflected in the tact and diplomacy of their delivery.
A suite of flexible personal protection measures is available and would be designed and implemented around the lifestyle of the client and/or their family. The clients’ views on protection delivery will always be sought and will form an integral part of ‘how’ personal protection will be delivered for them.
Personal Protection – Options
- Personal Security Advice (PSA)
- Close Protection – Personal Security Support (PSS)
- International Personal Security Support (I-PSS)
- Overseas Personal Security Support (O-PSS)
- Close Protection – Elevated Risk Limited Infrastructure (CP-ERLI)
- Driver and Vehicle options
- Surveillance, Counter Surveillance and Intelligence gathering.
Personal Security Advice (PSA)
Here the client has the choice and flexibility of deciding how much contact they wish to have with their dedicated Personal Security Adviser. For the client, this gives them the flexibility to seek security advice on demand, as the need arises, and to allow for a remote, or in person regular security check-in with their adviser. Personal Security Advisers can also switch into Close Protection roles to fit in neatly and discreetly in other scenarios where a security presence may be required for the client, for example jogging or training, public engagements, dealing with media and long-distance driving and international travel.
Close Protection – Personal Security Support (PSS)
This service is tailored to the everyday lifestyle of the client and, as the title implies is a physical security presence. Close Protection – Personal Security Support operatives invariably establish themselves as an extension of the support mechanism to the client, in addition to their principal duties of reducing risk, harm and threat opportunities to the client. Exceptional communicative and diplomatic skills can be expected from the GSA operative/s, crafted through extensive time spent with Royalty and senior members of government.
Personal Security Support can help a client and their private office plan for effective diary management. It also provides on the ground, discreet client assistance at travel hubs, airports, hotels, schools, theatres, restaurants and other social settings. Support measures from the one or two-person Close Protection team are extensive and include planning timings and driving or travel routes for meetings for the client. In a business or work setting, Personal Security Support can assist a client or private office with venue hosts or facilitating entry to a conference or media event. This type of capability and support transcends simply ‘Close Protection’ and clients quickly come to see and feel the benefits of trusted and safe hands augmenting their lifestyle.
International Personal Security Support (I-PSS)
For clients departing the UK. International Personal Security Support offers immeasurable capability and reassurance for clients who must travel outside of the UK, for example at a conference, summit or business meeting. GSA will link with hosts at venues and secure vehicles and drivers for the client’s travel, if required. An international support operative has the flexibility to travel ahead of the client if required and support plans and engagement with partners around a client’s arrival, residence, hotel, engagements, media and other activity.
Overseas Personal Security Support (O-PSS)
For clients visiting the UK. Overseas Personal Security Support hugely benefits a client visiting the UK, even more so if the client is travelling with a regular protection operative not aligned to GSA. We provide all UK protection measures ready for the client and their protection operative, ready to hit the ground running when they land in the UK. With access and reach into the UK law enforcement network, GSA O-PSS can support with physical close protection, drivers and vehicles, recces of venues, hotels and locations to which the client is attending.
Close Protection – Elevated Risk Limited Infrastructure (CP-ERLI)
For a client who must travel to parts of the world far less travelled, GSA has capability to support you and provide a comprehensive security mechanism for your visit. Using only former UK Special Forces (UKSF) and Metropolitan Police Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) operatives, the ERLI service manages risks on multiple levels. We will work with overseas embassies and assets in the host country to be visited, pre-visit. The ERLI team will plan contingencies for cyber and communications security in-country. We can liaise with host nation security forces if appropriate, and plan for themes such as medical evacuation and repatriation, kidnap and ransom threat mitigation, political instability
Driver and Vehicle options
All GSA drivers have been subject to the most rigorous driving courses on offer to the UK Police and Military, with the majority of protection operatives all having been anti-hijack/kidnap and escort trained. Our drivers treat driving as it should be, safely, smoothly and with regard for passengers. GSA has access to an extensive and diverse range of executive and luxury soft-skin and armoured vehicles options and can cater for everything from a single vehicle requirement, to absorbing an international delegation to a summit or conference.
Surveillance, Counter Surveillance and Intelligence gathering
For clients with ongoing, unresolved issues within their private, working or public facing sphere, or for those wishing to build an intelligence picture and report of a particular issue or set of circumstances, GSA can support you in this endeavour. Using former Metropolitan Police surveillance trained officers and specialist Intelligence counterparts, further details of this highly discreet service are available, upon request.