“I would highly recommend using members of the UK Security Alliance for all your professional security requirements” – Jerry Springer

London, England, 17^th Jan 2011 – The UK Security Alliance is a unique group that has been created by working professional close protection officers looking to raise the standards of the close protection industry. This once self-regulating industry is now awash with badly trained, inexperienced people since government licensing was introduced in 2006. The UK Security Alliance has been created to distinguish between professional career security officers and the people who just fancied trying something different or exciting. This is achieved by our unique membership system.

Stephen Hopkins, founder of the UK Security Alliance comments “People who use professional security services don’t realise that holding an SIA (Security Industry Authority) close protection licence only means a person has passed a 14 day course, has a clean criminal history and has paid £245 to the Government to be allowed to work in the security industry. The shocking reality is that you could be entrusting your safety to someone who has never worked in the security industry before. The UK Security Alliance offers free professional advice to potential purchasers of professional security services, and if someone would like us to put a potential task to our members, we are happy to do so free of charge after we have carried out all necessary due diligence.”

Jerry Springer – media personality, user of professional security services and current user of UK Security Alliance members says “It’s very important to know that the person in charge of your safety knows what they are doing. I feel safe and secure knowing I am in the experienced hands of members from the UK Security Alliance. I would highly recommend using the members of the UK Security Alliance for all your professional security requirements.”

The UK Security Alliance is a not-for-profit group. Stephen Hopkins has worked in the security industry for over 11 years, managing corporate and entertainment close protection tasks. The UK Security Alliance aims to raise the standards of the close protection industry, and connect close protection security service buyers with professional security companies and individuals.

For further information please visit UK Security Alliance Web Site or contact:
UK Security Alliance
contact [@] uksecurityalliance.co.uk
Follow UK Security Alliance on Twitter @theUKSA

With so many security companies to choose from, how do you select a goood one? Or more importantly, the right one for your security task?

I can’t tell you how you do that, but I can tell you about Capitol Risk and how we do things.

At Capitol Risk, we still have old school values when it comes to the security officers we use, no matter what the task is.

We don’t believe that just because a security officer is ex-special forces or police, makes them the right choice to be placed on your security detail. We don’t try and force that point on potential clients either. If the security task requires someone to stand in the same place for 5 hours, you still need the right person for that task.

People who are unfamiliar with the UK security industry may think that just because a security officer holds a valid Close Protection licence, they are qualified and experienced enough to give you the level of protection you require. On paper, these security officers are qualified, but the unfortunate reality is that many people who hold SIA Close Protection Licences have never worked in the security industry, and many CP licence holders who do work in the security industry may never have worked as part of a real close protection detail.

This is where our experience in the security industry and our values really come in to play. We only use professional career security officers who we have personally worked with, or who have come through our network of professional security officers. Professionals will never risk tarnishing their reputations by recommending someone who might be below standard, so to us it makes perfect sense to hire using this format.

There are many factors that go into team selection, but when you use Capitol Risk, you can rest assured that we will have found the best people to suit your security requirements. We have never placed someone on a security team just because they have the right SIA licence.

Capitol Risk are very well connected in London and work with the best supplementary services in the West End. We have access to a  fleet of brand new, very high spec Mercedes, at your disposal, with a brand new Bentley for that special occasion, and other vehicles available on special request. We have access to a Box at the o2 Arena and can usually arrange tickets for booked out shows and restaurants in the West End. Offering more than just personal security services, we can assign a personal assistant to the team who will manage your complete visit.

Contact Capitol Risk to find out how we can help you with your next security task.

contact @ capitol risk. co.uk

I have spoken to some huge guys who said they were close protection officers, and they told me that if something happened they would easily be able to stop it! The one thing that both clients and people new to the industry forget is that close protection is about spotting potential problems before they happen and getting the principal away from the threat. The “I can stop trouble when it happens” train of thought most likely comes from working on the doors for years, where that’s exactly what you have to do.

I have seen people who use close protection services surround themselves with the biggest guys they can find, but big doesn’t necessarily equal safe. If you choose to have this style of security, be aware that wherever you go, everyone will know where you are and how many security officers you have.

Regardless of what guys you have in your security team, just make sure they are suitable for the position. A good test is to ask prospective security officers what their definition of close protection is. If they answer “to stop trouble” or “to keep the principal safe” then there’s a chance they don’t really understand what close protection is really about.

I have worked with many close protection officers who have been ex-military, and they have been some of the top guys I have worked with, but if you do require close protection, do you really require ex-military personnel?

If we are talking about security details in hostile environments, then 99% of the time you have to come from an ex-military background to get these positions. But for the sake of this article, we are talking about working in a London security team.

Just because someone has been in the army, it doesn’t automatically qualify them to work in the close protection field and it certainly doesn’t make them security experts. Ex-military personnel do have skills that security officers form a “civvy” background might not, but do you really need those skills for your London secuirity?

Some ex-military personnel are lucky enough to have completed extensive courses on close protection whist serving, but most haven’t. People leave the armed forces every day, complete the same SIA close protection courses that everyone else does, and that’s it.

Personally, when I’m putting a CP team together, I don’t over look anyone who has the relative experience for the job in hand. It doesn’t matter that some close protection officers might be ex-military and some might not. What matters is that the close protection officers know how to do their job so that their principal can go about their business in a safe environment to the perceived level of threat.

When companies spend millions of pounds creating new, much anticipated products, they want to know that their product will be safe and secure.

It’s not just companies that require security for their products. Individuals with valuable antiques, artwork and jewellery  that need transporting form one place to another use our Asset Protection service for peace-of-mind.

Whether you have something small that you can fit in your pocket, or something large that you have to carry on the back of a lorry, Capitol Risk can ensure the safety of your valuable items.

If you require this type of service please contact us:

E: contact @ capitolrisk .co.uk

We can usually provide security cover at short notice.

Our record from first client call to placing security is 3 hours!

Even at short notice, the quality of our service and security officers always remains excellent. We will provide the same level of highly skilled and experienced security officer whether we have 2 weeks, 2 days or 10 hours notice.

You will NEVER just get a ‘body’ as a security officer from Capitol Risk.

All under control