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SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT



What’s the difference between a chauffeur and a close protection driver?
A standard chauffeur gets you from A to B, whereas a close protection driver ensures you reach your destination even when the route changes, surveillance is in play, or a threat emerges mid-journey. It’s the difference between arriving... and arriving safely. At VIS Protection, we provide Close Protection (bodyguard) drivers who combine high-level security training with the professionalism of executive transport. These aren’t just drivers. They’re trained operatives behind
paulfrederickjones
3 days ago4 min read


What Is Counter-Surveillance and When Is It Necessary?
Security today moves in silence. The threats that matter most aren’t always loud, obvious or dramatic - they’re subtle, persistent, and often watching long before they act. For high-net-worth individuals, public figures and those who live a portion of life online, counter-surveillance is no longer a specialist luxury. It’s a practical safeguard that protects privacy, routines and reputation. At VIS Protection, our role is simple: detect, disrupt and deter anyone attempti
paulfrederickjones
5 days ago6 min read


Why Home Robberies Rise When the Clocks Change – and How to Stay Ahead This Winter
Every year, when the clocks go back, the rhythm of daily life changes - and so do the tactics used by organised criminals. Longer nights, earlier darkness and predictable evening routines combine to create a seasonal spike in residential break-ins, particularly around high-value homes and estates. For high-net-worth families, principals, and the PAs or estate managers who run their households, this seasonal shift isn’t just inconvenient - it’s a vulnerability that needs atten
paulfrederickjones
Nov 215 min read


Residential Security for HNWIs: How to Secure Your Estate
For high-net-worth families, home isn’t just a property - it’s a sanctuary. Yet today’s risks extend far beyond simple break-ins. Homes are targeted for their value, their visibility, and increasingly their occupants. And with many HNW families balancing multiple residences, frequent travel, public profiles and busy routines, safeguarding a home requires more than alarms or cameras. This is where residential security becomes a strategic investment - a protective layer that
paulfrederickjones
Nov 207 min read


How to Keep Your Principal Safe During Travel: A Practical Guide for Executive Assistants
When your Principal travels, your responsibility extends far beyond flights and hotel bookings. You’re managing not just their itinerary — but their privacy, their comfort, and often, their personal safety. Every journey introduces new variables: unfamiliar drivers, exposed public spaces, unpredictable schedules. For high-profile individuals, even a short domestic trip can carry hidden risks. This guide is designed to help Executive Assistants and PAs manage their client’s tr
paulfrederickjones
Nov 194 min read


What is Close Protection - and When Do You Actually Need It?
Visibility is part of modern life. Whether you’re a public figure, a CEO, a high-net-worth family, or someone whose movements attract attention, risk doesn’t always look dramatic. More often, it’s subtle, quiet, and intentional. Close Protection is a tailored security service designed to counter that risk. It provides physical, situational, and behavioural protection delivered by trained professionals who blend into your environment while staying alert to threat indicators y
paulfrederickjones
Nov 194 min read


Briefing Your Principal: Questions Every PA Should Ask Before Hiring Close Protection
As a Personal or Executive Assistant, your role extends far beyond scheduling and logistics. You’re the gatekeeper — responsible for your Principal’s time, privacy, and, increasingly, their safety. When the need arises to hire close protection , it can feel like unfamiliar territory. The stakes are high. Choose well, and your Principal continues life uninterrupted. Choose poorly, and their security, comfort, or reputation may be compromised. The truth is, effective protection
paulfrederickjones
Nov 114 min read


Private Security Contracts: What Your Principal Should Expect - and What You Should Check
When arranging private security for a principal, most family offices and PAs assume that a signed contract equals peace of mind. But in practice, many private security contracts fall short of the standards a high-net-worth client should expect. Clauses are vague. Training is assumed. Accountability is left open to interpretation. And when something does go wrong, that lack of precision becomes a problem. At VIS Protection, we’ve reviewed countless contracts written by agencie
paulfrederickjones
Oct 285 min read


Do Families Need Bodyguards? A Guide to Discreet Protection for HNW Households
For most families, the idea of having a bodyguard sounds excessive. But for high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) households, the question isn’t about luxury - it’s about living freely without risk . Today, the lines between public and private life are blurred. Families share moments online, move between multiple homes, and travel frequently. Each of these adds visibility - and with it, vulnerability. If you manage or represent a private household - as a PA, es
paulfrederickjones
Oct 174 min read


Understanding PSA and SIA Licensing: What Clients in Ireland Should Know
When arranging Close Protection in Ireland , it’s easy to assume that a licence is a licence — that anyone calling themselves a bodyguard must have been through the same rigorous training. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. For PAs, family office managers and advisers tasked with sourcing security, this detail matters. Choosing the wrong operative can mean hiring someone legally permitted to guard a door, but not trained to protect a person. So, what’s the difference
paulfrederickjones
Oct 85 min read


Protective Surveillance: Security Without the ‘Bodyguard Presence’
When most people imagine private security, they picture a bodyguard glued to their side - tall, imposing, and impossible to ignore. It’s the classic Hollywood image: someone walking a step behind, eyes scanning the room, making their presence felt. For some, that setup works. But for many high-net-worth individuals, families, and executives, the thought of a bodyguard shadowing every movement feels intrusive. It disrupts normal life, alters how others interact with you, and c
paulfrederickjones
Oct 65 min read


Private Security vs Security Guards
Many people confuse private security with security guards, but the two services are very different. The right choice depends on the...
paulfrederickjones
Sep 294 min read


Can You Hire a Bodyguard in the UK? Your Guide to Personal Security
If you’re asking “Can I hire a bodyguard in the UK?”, the short answer is yes - and it’s more common than you think. The real questions...
paulfrederickjones
Sep 294 min read


How Much Does A Personal Bodyguard Cost In 2025? (UK & Ireland)
Personal security isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a high-profile executive, public figure, or someone who values...
paulfrederickjones
Sep 246 min read


Armed Security in Ireland: What’s Legal and What’s Best Practice
Ireland has become a hub for high-net-worth families, global executives, and public figures who value its stability and lifestyle. But with rising visibility comes rising risk. Questions around armed security in Ireland are becoming more common, often fuelled by reports of high-profile robberies across Europe. It’s understandable that more people than ever are researching this topic. In countries like the US, armed bodyguards are almost expected. But Ireland is different - le
paulfrederickjones
Sep 244 min read


London Close Protection & Security Chauffeurs: Discreet Movement for UHNWIs
London is a city of contrasts: world-class business centres sit beside historic estates, luxury boutiques line the same streets as crowded tourist hotspots, and private members’ clubs host high-profile gatherings every night of the week. For ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), the city is both a stage and a risk environment. While residences can be fortified and events carefully curated, the real exposure often lies in between: moving from home to office, from dinner t
paulfrederickjones
Sep 185 min read


Trust & Privacy in Private Security: Why UHNWIs Hesitate (and How to Overcome It)
Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals live in a world where wealth brings opportunity, but also exposure. Security is not optional — it’s a...
paulfrederickjones
Sep 94 min read


How celebrities vet their security teams (and why it matters)
When you’re constantly in the spotlight, your security team isn't just an accessory - they become part of your daily rhythm, your inner circle, and, in many cases, your peace of mind. But just because someone looks the part doesn’t mean they’re fit to protect a high-profile life. In fact, the wrong hire can do more harm than good. The cost of poor judgement You don't have to look far to find examples of celebrity security gone wrong. Leaked addresses, photos taken inside ho
paulfrederickjones
Aug 156 min read


Why Do I Need Private Security?
As someone who’s spent decades in both military service and private security, I’m often asked: What is the purpose of private security? The answer is simple - if you’re thinking about it, you likely already need it. Security isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preparation. And if something were to go wrong, would you wish you’d done something sooner? Why Is Personal Security Necessary? The moment your success becomes visible (through wealth, status, or online presence) you also
paulfrederickjones
Aug 55 min read


Can I Hire Security for One-Off Events?
Absolutely. In fact, the best security doesn’t draw attention - it prevents it. If you’re hosting, attending, or managing a high-profile event, you don’t want security to become part of the spectacle. You want to stay focused on the moment, while someone else quietly handles what’s happening at the margins. At VIS Protection, we provide protective surveillance and event security that blends into the background. We’re often on site before the client arrives, long after they
paulfrederickjones
Jul 311 min read
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