Close Protection Students Guard Big Names
Former students who trained as security professionals on a ground-breaking college course have been reunited to guard some of the biggest names in the music industry at a North-East festival.
Last year, Darlington College became the first in the country to offer a close protection course, giving students the expertise they would need to work in a host of challenging environments, from looking after prime ministers to guarding celebrities.
And when the Sugababes and James Morrison were signed up to perform to 7,000 fans at an outdoor festival at Durham County Cricket Club, event organisers turned to the college for crucial security support.
Close Protection programme leader Paul Hutchinson was asked to supply a team of operatives to guard the world-renowned stars over two nights.
Mr Hutchinson set about assembling a team of former students who had successfully completed the college’s BTEC Certificate in Close Protection Operations.
Glen O’Callaghan, Kristina Richards, Ben Jenkins, Colin Harper, Ste White, Ruth Bradnum, Mick Johnson, Steve Mastaglio and Paul Heatherington were assigned the task of getting the celebrities to and from the venue and ensuring that their on-stage performances ran smoothly.
The festival was the first major operation that several of the students had taken part in – and they won such glowing praise from organisers for their professionalism that the group has been asked to guard VIPs at another gig in Gloucester.
Their achievements were testament to the success of a course which has proved extremely popular since its launch last year.
Run over three weeks, the 150-hour course gives students invaluable skills in a range of disciplines from surveillance and reconnaissance to conflict management and risk assessment.
Tutor Mr Hutchinson has a wealth of experience in the field, having previously worked across the globe for the former prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Mr Hutchinson said: “The people we train will often go on to work in close protection roles throughout the world, so to be able to pull together a team made up entirely of former Darlington College students for an event in Durham was fantastic.
“It shows the excellent reputation that the course has developed within the industry and our former students did an outstanding job in what was a demanding environment, with thousands of people in attendance.
“It also demonstrates the type of exciting opportunities that are available to anyone with an interest in this field of work.”
The next course will begin on September 21 and will be run again in November, March and April. To find out more click here.
