What is Close Protections (Bodyguards) duties?

Kia Ora,

Well the big news today is the manhandling by the Chinese Vice Presidents Close Protection team of the Green Party leader who was staging a protest at the entrance to the New Zealand Parliament.

So what are really the duties that Close Protection are required to carry out?

In the movies it is always to give your life for someone, but in reality there is more than that & really what use is a bodyguard if they are dead? Body cover is a drill, but it is not just what you are there for & why more often than not your contract calls you a consultant.

There are three duties for a Close Protection team to consider.

First is the Preventing of Unintentional harm or injury.

So that means, if the 'Angry Man' is still reading, carrying out health & safety risk assessments both prior & during any moves, visits or in general, often without any prior visits. It also entails you knowing any medical conditions your client might have & have an understanding of local customs & laws that could put your client(known as a principal) in danger.

Next is Preventing Embarrassing Situations. Now todays incident can be seen two ways.

The team has brought the Vice President embarrassment by making it a media circus.

But that is the western view. The Chinese will have a very different view & whilst no expert on Chinese views, having learnt some Putonghua (standard Chinese) a few years ago which included some insight into the culture, they may view it very differently.

To the Chinese saving face is very big & having that flag shoved in the proximity of the Vice President could be seen as a loss of face. I thought their use of an umbrella was good & an attempt to show they are trying to fit in with western views.

The third duty is to Prevent Intentional Harm & Injury.

On the TV footage shown it would appear that the Green MP got far too close for the team to be comfortable.

New Zealanders have to realize that what might seem safe here is not what people overseas are used too.

I have meet some who refuse to come to NZ, as they think it is too unsafe as our police & security are unarmed.

As a country we are very reliant on amongst other things tourists coming here.

In an article yesterday it was commented on that quite a few foreign Heads of State are expected for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Just one we might be able to cater for but there has being a vast change in possible threat since APEC 1999 here.

Had this protest happened overseas it would of likely being much more controlled as indicated by the video clips that should be added below.

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