| Before any business executive or protective guard | | | | 3. History of bodyguarding |
| assigned to close protection bodyguarding duties | | | | Most people's perception of bodyguarding is that it is a |
| commences a security operation, it is wise to | | | | relatively new industry which only stretches back |
| understand the secret history of protective service | | | | approximately 100 years; nothing could be further from |
| operations. | | | | the truth. |
| It is equally important to understand and identify the | | | | Visit for a copy of The History of Bodyguarding by the |
| very premise of close protection and bodyguarding. A | | | | British American Security Expert. Professional |
| protective guard or protective guards only exist | | | | bodyguarding can be traced back thousands of years |
| because there is an actual or perceived threat levied | | | | and is in fact one of the oldest professions known to |
| against a human or other valuable asset. | | | | man. |
| Generally human assets fear what they do not | | | | In order to understand the history it is essential to first |
| understand, in the case of hiring protective guards to | | | | understand the actual meaning of the word bodyguard. |
| supply close protection service the business executive | | | | The Oxford English Dictionary defines the meaning as |
| asset typically does not understand professional | | | | 'A person, or group of persons escorting and |
| security. | | | | protecting another person, especially a dignitary'. |
| Hence they or their senior directors are fearful enough | | | | With this in mind a few of the best known individuals, |
| to engage protective guards to supply a close | | | | and groups of people, who have utilised the services |
| protection or bodyguarding protective service | | | | of professional bodyguards in the last two thousand |
| operations. | | | | years are named below. |
| The security industry is booming, especially the sector | | | | Julius Caesar (Circa) 100 B.C. |
| dealing with executive protection where a protective | | | | At the height of his career as a General and Dictator |
| guard is assigned to a business executive on close | | | | of the Roman Empire it was estimated that he utilised |
| protection. | | | | the services of approximately two thousand |
| This article provides an introduction to protective guard | | | | professional bodyguards. Unfortunately for him many |
| a secret history of close protection bodyguarding. The | | | | of them conspired in his death on the 15th March 44 |
| information in this article has been taken from the | | | | BC (stabbed). |
| training syllabus of the Law Enforcement & Bodyguard | | | | Spartacus 74-71 BC |
| Association International - L.E.B.A.I | | | | Spartacus was a bandit and slave who trained as a |
| In this article I cover the following content matter... | | | | gladiator. He formed an army of 90,000 slaves. His |
| 1.Introduction to the secret history of close | | | | protection team consisted of fellow gladiators who |
| protectionbodyguarding 2.What are protective service | | | | had also escaped from the Gladiatorial School in |
| operations | | | | Capua, Italy. |
| 3.History of bodyguarding and protective guards | | | | Attila The Hun 406-453 |
| Protective Guard A Secret History Of Close | | | | Became King of the Huns in 434. For the next 20 |
| Protection Bodyguarding | | | | years he was protected by members of his warring |
| Introduction to Protective Service Operations | | | | nomad tribesmen as he conquered and plundered |
| 1. Introduction | | | | most of Europe. |
| In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in | | | | El Cid circa 1043-1099 |
| the experts mind there are few! | | | | Spanish soldier and national hero (real name Rodrigo |
| Executive VIP Protection is experiencing a major | | | | Diaz De Vivar) surrounded himself with protection from |
| boom as we progress towards the end of the first | | | | an army of brave and loyal men. |
| decade of the new Millennium. This sector of the | | | | GENGHIS KHAN 1162-1227 |
| security business is set to become one of the largest | | | | Originally named Temujin, he created the Mongol |
| growth areas connected to the International security | | | | Empire the largest empire in history. He achieved his |
| industry. | | | | success through brilliant leadership, strict discipline and |
| The nineties saw the collapse of Communism in a | | | | unimaginable cruelty. He utilised Mongolian tribesmen as |
| major part of the world. The former Soviet Union, | | | | his bodyguards. |
| which alone covers one sixth of the world's land mass, | | | | Oliver Cromwell 1599-1658 |
| is witnessing a phenomenal increase in the | | | | Lord Protector of Great Britain from 1653 to 1658,he |
| employment of protective guards and Executive | | | | utilised members of his New Model Army as |
| Protection Officers, ( EPO's. ) | | | | bodyguards to deal with assassination attempts, |
| There had never been a need for Executive | | | | especially from the Cavaliers, supporters of King |
| Protection Officers prior to Perestroika, as private | | | | Charles I. |
| business was rigorously opposed by the communist | | | | Napoleon Bonaparte I 1769-1821 |
| regimes. | | | | At the height of his career in November 1799 after the |
| The introduction of private business in this part of the | | | | famous coup d'etat from which he became the new |
| world has dictated the need for professionally trained | | | | leader of France until his defeat at the battle of |
| Executive Protection Officers, especially as the various | | | | Waterloo, Napoleon utilised the services of a full |
| Mafia groups and organised crime lords openly battle | | | | company of soldiers as his personal bodyguards. |
| for control of these new businesses. | | | | He was a definite high risk client who was regularly |
| As further political and business stability comes to | | | | targeted by assassins. The first attempted explosive |
| these regions we will see a massive need for | | | | time bomb assassination attempt was against |
| professional Executive Protection Officers. | | | | Napoleon. |
| This boom is not limited to the former Eastern Bloc | | | | Shaka circa 1787-1828 |
| countries. The West is also experiencing a huge | | | | Shaka was the first great chief of the Zulu nation. He |
| increase in the employment of Executive Protection | | | | was protected by the elite of his fighting forces. He |
| Officers. | | | | lived a high risk existence, especially after he put 7,000 |
| Crime is steadily rising in most countries around the | | | | of his own Zulu's to death as a sign of grief when his |
| world, particularly crimes linked to violence. Whilst we | | | | mother died. |
| continue to see this increase we will also experience a | | | | Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 |
| continued growth in the executive protection industry. | | | | Lincoln was assassinated whilst at the theater one |
| Most governments now openly admit that the private | | | | evening by a fanatical supporter of the Southern |
| sector offers a much more reliable, cost efficient | | | | States. He had dismissed his protection team for the |
| service than the traditional public sector. | | | | evening (Shot). |
| It is anticipated that the European Parliament will | | | | Queen Victoria 1837-1901 |
| officially recognise and regulate Executive Protection | | | | Queen Victoria utilised bodyguards and survived |
| Officers in the same vein as the government of the | | | | between seven and twenty eight assassination |
| U.S.A. | | | | attempts. |
| 2. What Are Protective Service Operations? | | | | Although furnished with many protection officers, she |
| Protective service operations are basically a security | | | | preferred the company of one individual officer. |
| operation where an individual, or a team of Executive | | | | Originally Irish Special Branch was created to protect |
| Protection Officers or protective guards, supply a | | | | her from the Irish Fenian Brotherhood. |
| complete protection service to a client or clients like a | | | | Charles De Gaulle 1890-1970 |
| business executive who feel, or have actually been, | | | | President of France1958-1969, he survived many |
| threatened. | | | | assassination attempts as he steered his country |
| These threats can be written, verbal or physical. | | | | through political turmoil. |
| A client or clients who fear for their personal safety | | | | Lord Mountbatten |
| would initially contact a security consultant who would | | | | He ignored his Special Branch protection team's advice |
| recommend a professional protection team. The chief | | | | to take a boating holiday in a country other than Ireland. |
| operational officer of the team would then organise | | | | He was assassinated by the IRA in 1979. |
| the complete protective service operation. | | | | Mrs Indira Gandhi 1917-1984 |
| The service operation would be a unique package, | | | | As Prime Minister of India she regularly used |
| tailor made to suit the individual needs of the client. It | | | | bodyguards, usually officers of the Indian Intelligence |
| would encompass such things as: | | | | Service. She ignored their advice and also employed |
| - Client Interview. - Threat Analysis. - Past Incident | | | | Sikh bodyguards, two of whom were the police |
| Research. - Present Day Risk Analysis. - Individual | | | | officers who assassinated her in 1984. |
| Client's Protection Team Formation. - Operational | | | | *Some of the most professional bodyguards in history |
| Pre-Briefing. - Operational De-Briefing. | | | | were the ancient 'Samurai' warriors from Japan. Their |
| A professional protective service operation can be | | | | protection services were provided to feuding warlords |
| organised for any low, medium or high risk scenario in | | | | and landowners. |
| any overseas location, providing the protection team | | | | This protective guard a secret history of close |
| have the relevant International Government and Law | | | | protection bodyguarding article has only covered the |
| Enforcement contacts. | | | | very early history of bodyguarding and close |
| International Laws Concerning Executive Protection | | | | protection. Further historical updates will follow in a |
| Service Operations Vary From Country To Country | | | | future article. |