If you work in Close Protection in the UK, you will have to deal with paparazzi at some point. If you are coming into the country from abroad, it may surprise you how aggressive they are. I have been dealing with paparazzi for over 25 years around the world and I can honestly say the UK photographers are the most feral of the lot.
This blog is aimed at newer CPOs and those visiting the UK so you know what to expect and how to manage it.
Know the Law
In the UK, anyone can take photos or video in public. That includes your principal and your team. You cannot legally stop them.
If paparazzi cross the line into repeated chasing, blocking or aggressive behaviour, then it can be classed as harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. In reality, that is rarely enforced unless the behaviour is extreme and ongoing.
The one clear exception is private property. Once you are inside a venue, hotel or residence, security staff can restrict or remove photographers who refuse to comply.
Bottom line: in public you cannot stop it. Your role is to manage the exposure, not enforce the law.
Cutting Through the Myths
I have seen this nonsense taught on many of the so-called CP top-up courses but you absolutely cannot use physical force to move paparazzi in a public area just because they are close.
If paparazzi are simply near you, shouting, or holding a camera up, that is not unlawful. You cannot push them, physically move them, or touch the camera.
UK law is clear: you can only use force if it is both necessary and proportionate, and only if you have an honestly held belief that you or your principal are about to suffer unlawful force or harm. That comes from the Criminal Law Act 1967 (s3) and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (s76).
In those situations you would be justified in using necessary and proportionate force to protect your principal. Anything else and you risk becoming the aggressor.
What you can do in a public area is create a physical barrier using your body, positioning, bags or umbrellas to block access or obstruct a lens while moving towards a more sterile environment. That is very different from laying hands on the person or their property.
Remember: you don’t have to shove someone across the pavement to be in the wrong. In the UK, just laying a hand on someone or trying to physically move them without a legal reason can be seen as assault or battery. Even touching their clothing, or trying to push a phone or camera out of the way, can land you in trouble.
If you grab a phone or camera and it breaks, that could also be criminal damage.
None of this is minor. It can end your career instantly. Even if you avoid court, you would almost certainly lose your SIA licence, and that is the same as losing your job in the UK protection industry. On top of that, your principal ends up in the press for all the wrong reasons.
Practical Management
The key is control, not confrontation.
- Use positioning, coats, umbrellas, bags or vehicles to block lenses.
- Keep the principal moving. Standing still gives photographers time to swarm.
- The more you make a scene, the bigger the story becomes.
If you are visiting from overseas, prepare for UK paparazzi to be closer, faster and bolder than you are used to.
Also remember you are not limited to the front door. Alternative private access and exit points are often available. Working with venue or hotel security is always a good option. In my experience, staff are usually more than willing to help if you ask in the right way.
Communication
Communication is key. A calm word often goes further than aggression. I have found that asking photographers to be respectful usually helps. The one rule I have always briefed firmly is no photographs of children. Most professional photographers will respect this if told directly.
Smartphones are a harder challenge as anyone can film instantly, but it is still worth trying to manage politely when you can.
Avoid Escalation
This is where a lot of new CPOs make mistakes.
- Never grab a camera or phone.
- Don’t bother shining torches into lenses. Modern cameras cut straight through it. A torch beam or strobe might cause a bit of flare, but it rarely ruins the shot.
- Practical reality: I have seen CPOs try it many times. In most cases the only result was that the photographs came out more dramatic, with beams of light cutting through them. It made the team look heavy-handed and unprofessional, while the paparazzi still got the shot they wanted. Focus on your principal, not gimmicky distraction techniques.
- Never lose your composure.
Drama is exactly what the paparazzi want. They feed off it because those are the pictures that sell for more. Do not give it to them.
To summarise
It is also worth noting that for many celebrities, the publicity is part of the game. They need it as much as they dislike it. Your role is not always to stop the photos but to control the situation and maintain a safe environment.
Dealing with UK paparazzi is about balance. You have to protect your principal’s safety and dignity while respecting the fact that people are allowed to take images in public. Communication is central to that.
For new CPOs and visiting teams, the key lesson is that you cannot fight or push paparazzi around in the UK. What you can do is manage them with communication, planning, calm presence and good positioning.
Stay safe,
Sean
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