Security & DefenceISCO 5414
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a person who protects clients from injury, attack and being accosted, accompanying politicians and others to events and gatherings.
Check yourself in a minute: bodyguard
Rate 5 of the 22 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
restrain individuals
provide first aid
perform body searches
protect important clients
react calmly in stressful situations
About bodyguard
The bodyguard observes the surroundings, detects security threats and anticipates them, which means reading a crowd, a route and a building for what could go wrong before anything does. Security walks are carried out in advance: the venue, the entrances, the exits and the places where a client is exposed. The bodyguard also checks information on particular individuals and organisations who may pose a threat.
When a threat appears, the bodyguard restrains individuals, controls crowds, and adapts to a changing situation, for example when a route or the mood of a crowd changes.
The bodyguard also provides first aid to anyone who is hurt, including the client. Bodyguards liaise with security authorities, exchanging information with the police, the venue's own security and the client's staff. They may carry and use a firearm, and the conditions under which that is permitted, together with licensing of the work itself, are set by national law.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (22)
body languagebody languageNotice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including yourself.check methodscheck methodsProcedures used for investigative purposes such as surveillance by physical and electronic means, interrogations of witnesses, collection of objects and data for assessment and analysis and physical a...restrain individualsrestrain individualsRestrain, or control by force, individuals who violate regulations in terms of acceptable behaviour, who present a threat to others, and who perform acts of violence, to ensure the individual is unabl...communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.perform body searchesperform body searchesExamine visitors by performing a body search, in order to detect weapons or illegal substances.protect important clientsprotect important clientsKeep clients safe who have extraordinary level of risk by organising and providing the relevant security.react calmly in stressful situationsreact calmly in stressful situationsReact quickly, calmly, and safely to unexpected situations; provide a solution that solves the problem or diminishes its impact.adapt to changing situationsadapt to changing situationsChange approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people's needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.comply with the principles of self-defencecomply with the principles of self-defenceObserve the principles according to which a person should only use so much force as is required to repel an attack. The use of deadly force is limited to situations where attackers are using deadly fo...work in shiftswork in shiftsWork in rotating shifts, where the goal is to keep a service or production line running around the clock and each day of the week.stay alertstay alertStay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.control crowdcontrol crowdControl a crowd or riot, ensuring people do not cross to areas they are not allowed to access, monitoring the crowd's behaviour and responding to suspicious and violent behaviour.manage major incidentsmanage major incidentsTake immediate action to respond to major incidents that affect the safety and security of individuals in private or public places such as road accidents.check subjectscheck subjectsGather and check all relevant information on a person, company or other subject in the context of an investigation.identify security threatsidentify security threatsIdentify security threats during investigations, inspections, or patrols, and perform the necessary actions to minimise or neutralise the threat.perform security checksperform security checksMonitor and check individuals' bags or personal items in order to make sure the individuals present no threats and that their behaviour is legally compliant.detain offendersdetain offendersKeep back offenders and trespassers in a certain area.liaise with security authoritiesliaise with security authoritiesRespond quickly to security incidents and violations by calling the police and keep in touch with other relevant parties involved in the potential prosecution of the offender.execute inspection walkwayexecute inspection walkwayCarry out a route in order to verify if all the doors and windows are closed.practice vigilancepractice vigilancePractice vigilance during patrol or other surveillance activities in order to ensure safety and security, to look out for suspicious behaviour or other alarming changes in patterns or activities, and ...secure premisessecure premisesSearch premises for potential insecurities or risks. If insecurities are detected, remove them in order to assure the client's safety.
Optional (22) — show
European firearms-control legislationEuropean firearms-control legislationThe regulation regarding the acquisition and possession of weapons on a European Union level by means the Directive 91/477/EEC and the Directive 2008/51/EC.legal use-of-forcelegal use-of-forceThe characteristics of the use-of-force, which is a legal doctrine employed by police and army forces, to regulate acts of violence during interventions. Use-of-force is ought to balance security need...legal requirements related to ammunitionlegal requirements related to ammunitionLegal regulations and requirements in the field of selling, buying, handling and storing ammunition.first responsefirst responseThe procedures of pre-hospital care for medical emergencies, such as first aid, resuscitation techniques, legal and ethical issues, patient assessment, trauma emergencies.surveillance methodssurveillance methodsSurveillance methods used in the gathering of information and intelligence for investigation purposes.operate radio equipmentoperate radio equipmentSet up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in ...identify surveillance devicesidentify surveillance devicesUse counter surveillance measures to search and detect surveillance material such as covert listening devices and hidden video devices.drive vehiclesdrive vehiclesBe able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.assist emergency servicesassist emergency servicesAssist and cooperate with the police and emergency services when needed.monitor surveillance equipmentmonitor surveillance equipmentMonitor the operation of equipment used in surveillance and gathering of intelligence to ensure it functions properly and to gather the surveillance information detected by it.ensure compliance with types of weaponsensure compliance with types of weaponsComply with legal requirements when using different kinds of firearms and other types of weapons and their matching ammunition.assist police investigationsassist police investigationsAssist in police investigations by providing them with specialised information as a professional involved in the case, or by providing witness accounts, in order to ensure the police have all relevant...identify terrorism threatsidentify terrorism threatsIdentify the possibility of terrorism activities posing threats and danger in a specific area by monitoring activities of potentially dangerous groups of people, assessing risks in different areas, an...interrogate individualsinterrogate individualsInterview individuals in such a manner that they give information that could be of use in an investigation and that they possibly tried to conceal.check official documentscheck official documentsCheck an individuals' official documentation, such as driver's licenses and identification, to ensure compliance with legal regulations, and to identify and assess individuals.apply advanced driving techniquesapply advanced driving techniquesBeing capable to effectively steer a vehicle in extreme situations using defensive, evasive or offensive driving.search for explosive devicessearch for explosive devicesMonitor and search the surroundings and insides of the client’s accommodation, work place and transport routes and detect explosive devices aimed at harming the client.coordinate patrolscoordinate patrolsCoordinate the investigation and inspection of a certain area by assigning patrollers to routes and areas, establishing the area that needs patrolling, and coordinating the activities during the patro...provide protective escortprovide protective escortProtect the client when he is outside of his accommodation or workplace at an event or on the move, using strategies and meeting all necessary security measures in order to defend the client of possib...provide secured transportationprovide secured transportationManage secured transportation of cash or other valuable cargo, like securities, jewellery or important individuals.patrol areaspatrol areasPatrol a designated area, watch out for and respond to suspicious and dangerous situations, and communicating with emergency response organisations.deal with aggressive behaviourdeal with aggressive behaviourRespond promptly to adverse behaviour in a professional manner by taking appropriate and legal action to prevent further aggressiveness, such as verbal warning, lawful removal from the premises or app...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a bodyguard do?
Bodyguards offer protection to their clients against injury, attacks and harassment. They accompany individuals such as politicians and actors to various events and gatherings. Bodyguards observe the surrounding environment, anticipate threats and respond to security emergencies. They may carry and use guns.
What skills does a bodyguard need?
A bodyguard needs 22 essential skills, including body language, check methods, restrain individuals, communicate with customers, provide first aid.
Will AI replace bodyguard jobs?
The AI disruption score for bodyguard is 23/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor surveillance equipment, European firearms-control legislation, communicate with customers. Most resilient: restrain individuals, work in shifts, legal use-of-force.
AI Replacement Risk
23/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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