Farage is surely now a busted flush? He knows he’s never going to be Prime Minister. So it surely won’t be long before he decides he’d rather be making money than wasting his time on politicking. (Interestingly the bookies have 2026 as “favourite” to be the year he ceases to be leader of Reform UK.)
It looks like a lot of people are not be happy with the £5 million donation that he got. He needs protection and its very expensive.
Here's a guide to the cost from former Metropolitan Police Service detective Peter Bleksley.
How far will £5 million go in the world of Close Protection? - (CP); A long read...
I have worked providing close protection to prominent, or high-net-worth, or vulnerable individuals - the 'Principal'. It is an eye-wateringly expensive business.
There is no such thing as perfect security, but those who work in this industry do their very best to keep their Principal safe. They are willing to take a bullet or a blade for those they protect, and need to be paid accordingly.
A well-resourced team should have at least ten close protection operatives - (CPOs).
Three should travel in the Security Advance Party, (SAP - Vehicle One), four with the Principal, (Vehicle Two),and three in the back-up vehicle. (Vehicle three). Each CPO is highly trained, and preferably experienced. They are all licensed by the Security Industry Authority - (SIA), and will have up-to-date advanced first aid training. Each operative has to be equipped with a state-of-the-art radio, secure mobile phone, and each vehicle must be equipped with a defibrilator and advanced first aid equipment.
CPOs will typically work a 12 hour shift, but these shifts are often extended, thereby incurring overtime costs. Alternatively, if the Principal is to have a long day away from their residence, then two full teams may be required to adequately protect them.
If the Principal travels widely, then of course their security teams travel with them, thereby incurring hotel bills, flight costs, subsistence expenses etc. These costs are all met by the Principal or their representatives.
Residential Security Teams - RST - are also required to provide 24 hour protection to the Principal's main home address whether they are in residence or not. These teams will preferably be supported by at least one general purpose dog handler and his land shark. RSTs should consist of two operatives at the very least.
The vehicles these CPOs use should be bullet-proof, bomb-proof, and have other specialist capabilities. They are ludicrously expensive, and sometimes leased.
These are the basics. Now onto costs...
All teams will invariably be employed by a security company who has the contract with the Principal or their representatives. The company will have many costs - premises, staff, the maintenance of the contract and more, and of course they want to make a profit.
In dealing with these costs, I am going to be deliberately conservative.
A CPO will be paid at least £300 per day. The company will factor in their costs and consequently charge the Principal £500 per day for each operative.
RST operatives will be paid £250 per day. The company will charge the Principal £400 per day for each operative. A dog handler will be paid £300 per day. The usual additonal costing rules apply.
So, ten CPOs at £500 per day equals £5,000 per day.
Two RST operatives plus a dog handler equals £1,300 per day.
Vehicle rental costs x3 equals approx £450 per day.
Radio leasing and phone costs equals approx £200 per day.
Fuel for 3 vehicles say £60 per day. (They're gas guzzlers!)
So, conservative daily costs = £5,000 + £1,300 + £450 + £200 + £60, total = £7,010.
£7,010 x 365 = £2,558,650.
Please note I have not included any hotel costs, flight expenses, etc, so using my very frugal costing, £5 million quid would provide you with close protection security for two years.
You're welcome.
