Network structure
Our network spans 270+ cities across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Priority cities carry at least one Silver-tier operator on the active roster, with additional coverage sourced on request.
The cities are Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Bogota, Mexico City, Istanbul, Riyadh, Dubai, Mumbai, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Manila, Karachi, Bangkok, and Jakarta.
Coverage is not uniform. Some cities have deeper bench strength than others. We tell clients when a city has limited options and when a particular requirement may be difficult to fill on short notice.
How operators enter the network
Operators enter through our three-tier vetting process.
Bronze is the legal baseline: verified business registration, current licence numbers checked against issuing authorities, and valid insurance certificates confirmed. Bronze is a prerequisite for entry into our database. It is not sufficient to receive client referrals.
Silver adds substantive checks: criminal background on all principals, minimum three professional references all contacted and verified, training certificates validated against the issuing institution, and a structured interview. Silver is the minimum tier for any operator we recommend.
Gold requires operational evidence: completed engagements reviewed against client feedback, an operational assessment in their working city, and a clean incident record. Gold operators are prioritised for new enquiries and featured on city pages.
What we check
At Silver and above, vetting covers:
- Identity of company directors and principals (government ID required)
- Criminal history for all principals (DBS in the UK, equivalent in other jurisdictions)
- Security licence number, verified against the issuing authority, with expiry date tracked
- Professional indemnity and employer’s liability insurance certificates, current
- Training qualifications from an accredited provider, checked against the issuing institution
- Professional references from corporate clients, contacted and verified
- For armed services: firearms licence checked against issuing authority
- For security drivers: advanced/defensive driving qualification confirmed
Network gaps
We are transparent about gaps. If a client requires security in a city where we have limited vetted coverage, we say so. We do not match clients with unvetted operators to fill a gap.
For requirements in cities outside our primary network, we can often identify vetted operators through extended network contacts or conduct expedited vetting for a specific assignment. Lead times vary.
Confidentiality within the network
Operators in our network are not disclosed to clients by name without consent, and clients are not disclosed to operators without consent. We act as an intermediary throughout. This protects both parties and maintains the integrity of the confidential relationship our clients expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many operators are in the network?
Can security companies apply to join the network?
Do you work with armed operators?
What happens if an operator fails to meet standards?
Are operators aware they are in a network?
This page is published by CloseProtectionHire.com and written to editorial standards overseen by James Calloway, Senior Security Consultant (regulation, licensing, vetting and risk frameworks) and Marcus Webb, Security Operations Adviser (operational close protection, secure transport and city-specific safety).
Threat, regulatory and emergency information is sourced to named, dated authorities such as the FCDO, the US State Department and national licensing bodies. Last updated . See how we verify.