London has become a lawless place to live and visit recently, with London overtaking New York to become the murder capital of the world—if only briefly. Knife crime is rife and moped-enabled robbery gangs ride freely around the city, carelessly helping themselves to people’s personal property, with the police seemingly helpless to stop them!
There has been a huge increase in street gangs throwing corrosive liquids in people’s faces, so-called acid attacks to disable their victims to mug them, leaving victims scarred for life. It’s got so bad that the hashtag #LawlessLondon has even been trending on Twitter, as people let their frustrations and fears known on social media.
How to protect yourself in London
There are a few precautions you can make to protect yourself, simple things such as: not walking around on your phone, not displaying valuables—expensive jewellery etc—acting confidently, being aware of your surroundings at all times, making sure you’re not being followed and keeping your phone or wallet in your front and inside pockets—pickpocket gangs also operate throughout the city with great success.
Of course, if you’re on holiday or a business trip, your mind is elsewhere and you can’t be expected to dedicate your time and thoughts to your security—you would become paranoid, not able to enjoy all that London has to offer. Despite the headlines, London is an amazing cosmopolitan city with lots of history and culture to offer.
You could hire private security?
Bodyguards in London are more common than most people imagine; you only need to head to the world-famous tourist hotspot of Harrods in Knightsbridge to witness for yourself the amount of security—and wealth—on display. But it’s not just the rich and famous who are hiring bodyguards these days. Many families and companies from around the world are hiring this service.
It’s no surprise that security-conscious tourists and visiting business personnel are routinely looking towards private security companies to hire bodyguards in London for guaranteed personal safety and security. It has almost become as natural and acceptable as booking a hotel and travel—unfortunately that’s the world we live in these days.
What’s to blame?
Some say it’s due to mass immigration, drugs, the cut backs in police budgets and numbers, the threat of terrorism draining police resources, the slow recovery from recession, high unemployment, the weak government, or the vast increase in population, to name but a few. In reality, it’s a combination of all those facets that amounts to what is currently happening in London today.
How to hire a bodyguard in London
If you decide that your safety and security is not worth risking and you wish to hire a bodyguard, the first thing you should do is find a local security company that offers close protection services. Naturally the first place to look is Google. Make a note of the top three companies discovered in your research and contact them with your concerns and requirements. Speak with them and gauge their response, professionalism and knowledge before settling on the company you feel most comfortable with.
We found a highly rated and established company called Westminster Security, based in the heart of central London in Westminster; their reviews throughout the internet are highly complimentary and a quick look at their security blog reflects their knowledge and experience. Don’t forget to check the security company’s social media profiles to see if they reflect your expectations.
How much does a bodyguard cost?
As with everything in life, you get what you pay for! So, the question should be: how much do you value your security? And how much are you willing to invest in it for that peace of mind?
Different companies will charge different amounts depending on your needs and situation: the threat posed towards you, their bodyguard’s experience and background (ex-military and police are highly sought after) and the length of hire. Expect to pay a minimum day rate, anything between £300–£1000 per day. Don’t be swayed by low prices though, they are usually preceded by low quality and poor service. Close protection is one service that should not be decided by price!
