With the rise of terrorist attacks and weapon proliferation, the issue of personal safety of politicians and their families has become a matter of concern. Security and executive protection have been turned into business. Over the years people with special physical training have been providing protection and safety to those whose lives may be endangered because of their assets, property, role in the society, etc. It is worth to explain that nowadays personal protection officers are those officers who are assigned to the members of diplomatic corpuses or royal families to ensure their protection. A personal protection officer should be more than just a great fighter who can shoot, but also have analytical skills and overall awareness about the current situation to exclude all risks regarding a person he is protecting.
The position of personal protection officer seems to have never been as important as it is now. However, bodyguards and security existed long time ago. The history of occupations whose main task is to protect a person counts more than two millennia. Kings, popes, presidents, leaders of parties and civil movements, and even celebrities have hired specially trained people who can ensure their safety. At first, the majority of such guards were soldiers who proved their power and experience during war time. However, times have changed, and fighting power is not the only factor of success.
The history of what now is known as a personal protection officer begins in ancient Greece. Alexander the Great established a special troop of soldiers who were trained to ensure personal protection. There, especial attention was given to personal loyalty of the bodyguard to his principal. The unit was recognized as an elite and prestigious one, with men being drawn only from the most famous cavalries in the empire. Romans borrowed the idea of personal protection from the Greeks. At first, the Emperors of Rome used specially formed units to protect the in the field, however, later, these guards were transformed into personal every-day protection.
East Asia was also famous for its personal and executive protection. This region witnessed the rise of elite protection units where the best and the most trained men were recruited. Probably, the most famous guards were Samurai in Japan. They served as fearless warriors in the field, who were loyal to their principal. Later, they won a special place in the hierarchy of political power in Japan and could influence many political decisions. China also has a history of personal protection service that changed from one dynasty to another. For example, the Forbidden Troops served in the times of the Tang dynasty, while the Qing dynasty established the Imperial Guards Brigade with the best military men employed. The smallest parts of such units were trained as Imperial Bodyguards and were the most trusted men.
Along the history, the role and responsibilities of bodyguards evolved. Such services became a part of a national tradition. Protection executives often were highly respected among other people in the Middle Age. Several units were trained to ensure protection of the monarchs and their closest environment. Bodyguards had special positions at court and often also followed the succession line from a father to a son. In England the Queen’s Guard is still the most enduring among London’s attractions. In Italy, the Pope is also protected by the Swiss Guard that started its service in 1506. At that time, Swiss warriors were considered the best fighters in Europe. Presidents as well as other public persons and celebrities also have special officers whose main responsibility is to ensure their safety and security (Hagen, 2015).
The role and the definition of a personal protection officer have been currently undergoing changes that are raised by the increased demand for their services in the unstable global political environment. Therefore, new functions and responsibilities are being added all the time to ensure keeling in line with technological development. Today, the term personal protection is known as “a standard in the security industry and incorporated into statutes and job descriptions nationwide” (“Personal Protection – Historical Perspective” n.d.).
The main responsibilities of a personal protection officer are dictated by the function of their predecessors: “close protection of individuals and their families” (Mounfield, 2015). However, the presence of a personal protection officer within a close distance all the time may bother endangered person a lot. This demands a personal protection officer be invisible and not obscuring. If a principle always feels lack of personal freedom, and lives in the cage, this deprives his or her life of its quality. As a personal protection officer may be required to accompany the principal to the diplomatic events, he or she should be aware of the protocol, dress, manners and dining etiquette (“Personal Protection – Historical Perspective” n.d.).
Protective surveillance should be taken as an art and include readiness to respond any potential attack. A personal protection officer should be proficient in shooting, fighting and all other necessary attributes of physical training. Moreover, they should care about their own nutrition and have special instructions about fitness to keep good physical form. He should drive and have sufficient skills in defensive tactics. Special skills may be required for handling fans and paparazzi. Moreover, personal protection officers are required to know basic emergency medicine procedures (“Personal Protection – Historical Perspective” n.d.). Moreover, unarmed protection should be in the form of automated responses to any eventualities. It is not important whether an officer has intimidating looking, more important is his skills.
Therefore, a personal protection officer should be keeping in line with all technical innovations that can make his work easier, more effective and productive. He must be using relevant intelligence data and modern security technologies that ensure prevention of hazards before their actual emergence. A personal protection officer should “ascertain the severity of any potential threats and implement highly effective yet tolerable security protocols verified by reliable evidence which identifies the appropriate level of close protection required” (Mounfield, 2015). Any location from a shopping mall to a historic place should be assessed by a personal protective officer.
Therefore, the function of a personal protection officer is very complicated, as he or she should be aware of many things that might have no direct relation to the tasks he or she is doing. High requirements, work round-the-clock and tiring schedules indeed make this kind of occupation one of the most stressful and complicated. This occupation includes high risks and sacrifice, because the life of the principal is placed higher that the officer’s. However, it makes the profession of a personal protection officer one of the noblest and most responsible in the world.
References
Hagen, Christopher. (2015, February). The History of the Bodyguard and the Origins of Executive Protection. IMG. Retrieved from http://www.imgsecurity.net/the-history-of-the-bodyguard-and-the-origins-of-executive-protection/
Mounfield, Rick. (2015, February). Personal Protection in the 21st Century. Blackstone Consultancy. Retrieved from http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/section/personal-protection-21st-century/
Personal Protection – Historical Perspective. (n.d.). Academy of Security Educators and Trainers. Retrieved from http://www.academyofsecurity.org/news-pphp.html
