RAMS for Close Protection
Generate compliant risk assessments for close protection operations in under 2 minutes. Threat assessment, SIA CP licensing, and operative safety controls documented automatically.
Built with UK health & safety regulations in mind
Close protection is one of the most demanding and legally nuanced security disciplines. Every principal is different, every threat profile is different, and every operational environment carries its own risks. Close protection operatives (CPOs) work in environments ranging from central London business districts to hostile overseas environments, protecting principals from threats that range from aggressive media intrusion to direct physical violence.
Despite the operational complexity, many close protection companies produce either no formal RAMS or a generic document that bears no resemblance to the actual risk environment the operative will be working in. This is a problem on two levels. First, it is a legal obligation: the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work activities. Second, it is a practical failing: operatives working without documented, communicated risk controls are less safe, and clients who ask to see your safety documentation will not be impressed by a template with blank fields.
swiftRMS generates a close protection RAMS in under 2 minutes. The document is built around the specific principal, the threat assessment, the operational environment, and the protective measures in place. It is the documentation that professional CP companies need for contracts, insurance, and operative briefings.
What Close Protection RAMS Must Include
Compliant risk assessments for close protection work must cover these specific areas
Threat and vulnerability assessment
The foundation of any CP RAMS. The RAMS must document the threat level assessed (using a structured methodology: who, what, why), the principal's vulnerability profile, and the assessed risk level before and after protective measures.
Operational routes and venues
The RAMS should cover the planned movements of the principal, the venues to be visited, and the advance work conducted (venue recces, route analysis, emergency exits). This section links to the advance team's operational plan.
Communication protocols and emergency response
CPOs must have clear communication lines and a documented emergency response procedure. The RAMS must cover radio procedures, code words, escalation routes, and what happens if the primary response fails.
SIA licensing compliance
All CPOs working in the UK must hold a valid SIA Close Protection licence. RAMS must confirm operative licences are current and that licence checks are part of the pre-deployment process.
Medical and first aid provision
CPOs are frequently the first responder if a medical emergency affects the principal or a bystander. RAMS must document the minimum first aid qualification required (typically minimum FPOS or HSE First Aid at Work) and the medical kit carried.
Vehicle and driver security
If a protected vehicle operation is included, RAMS must cover vehicle selection, route security, anti-surveillance techniques, and the procedure in the event of a vehicle compromise or ambush.
Common Close Protection Tasks That Require RAMS
Generate RAMS for any of these tasks in minutes, not hours
Static residential or business premises protection
Protecting a principal at home or at a fixed business location. RAMS covers access control, visitor vetting, CCTV integration, and alarm response.
Mobile protection and route security
Escorting the principal between locations. Route analysis, advance recce, vehicle procedures, and reactive route changes if threat escalates.
Event protection
Protecting a principal at a public or semi-public event. Interface with venue security, crowd management, and media management.
Airport and transport hub transit
High-vulnerability locations for principals. VIP lounge access, customs and security facilitation, and luggage security.
Corporate and media environment protection
Low-profile CP in business and media environments. Blending with corporate settings while maintaining protective posture.
International travel operations
Higher-risk environments outside the UK. Country threat assessment, liaison with local law enforcement or contractors, and emergency evacuation planning (country-specific).
Witness protection and legal proceedings support
Supporting principals through court attendance or witness protection situations. Liaison with police and legal teams.
UK Legislation for Close Protection Risk Assessments
Every RAMS automatically cites the relevant UK legislation and industry standards
Private Security Industry Act 2001 and SIA Close Protection Licence
All close protection operatives working in the UK must hold a valid SIA Close Protection licence. This is a legal requirement, not optional.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Employers of CPOs have a duty of care to protect operatives from risks to their health and safety, including violence, overwork, and psychological impact.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Requires suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work activities. For CP, this means a threat-specific, principal-specific assessment, not a generic document.
Working Time Regulations 1998
CPOs frequently work very long hours. RAMS should document working time compliance, rest break provision, and the policy for extended operations.
Road Traffic Act 1988 and Highway Code
Where CPOs drive protected vehicles, road traffic law applies. Driving licences, vehicle fitness, and driving risk must be assessed.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Close protection operations involve handling sensitive personal data about the principal. RAMS should reference the data handling obligations of the CP company.
How swiftRMS Generates Close Protection RAMS
swiftRMS generates close protection RAMS by focusing on the information that makes CP risk assessment meaningful: the threat profile, the operational environment, the protective measures in place, and the emergency procedures.
You input the principal type (private individual, corporate executive, public figure, diplomatic), the threat level (low/medium/high), the operational environment (residential, business, event, travel), and the specific risks identified in the advance assessment. swiftRMS uses this to generate a RAMS that addresses the actual risk profile, not a generic template.
The output includes a threat and vulnerability assessment framework, the required operative qualifications, communication protocols, and emergency response procedures. The PDF is formatted for professional use: suitable for submission to insurance brokers, corporate clients, or as an internal briefing document for operative teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The RAMS is the risk assessment and method statement: it documents the hazards, assesses the risks, and records the controls in place. An operational order is the detailed tactical plan for a specific operation. Both are needed for a professional CP operation. The RAMS is the standing document; the operational order is operation-specific.
A valid SIA Close Protection licence. This is separate from the Door Supervisor licence and covers the specific training requirements of CP operations, including threat assessment, surveillance and counter-surveillance, and first aid. Using operatives without the correct licence is a criminal offence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Yes, for every new principal or significantly different operational environment. A threat assessment that applies to one principal does not apply to another. The route analysis, venue recces, and emergency procedures must be specific to the current operation.
swiftRMS generates documents based on the information you input. It is your responsibility to determine what level of detail to include in a written RAMS, particularly for close protection operations involving high-profile principals. The document can be generated with operational codes or pseudonyms in place of principal names where appropriate.
Generate Your First Close Protection RAMS Free
No credit card required. Generate a compliant, legislation-cited RAMS in under 2 minutes and download the PDF immediately.