By Nick Player - December 2025

The festive season, while a time of relaxation and celebration for the public, often represents one of the most operationally demanding periods in a Close Protection (CP) Operative's calendar. The fundamental security threat doesn't decrease; it simply changes character, becoming intertwined with crowded streets, late nights, and frequently, high spirits.

Professionalism is tested to its limits when routine breaks down. Here are the specific problems and scenarios that professional CP Operatives must successfully navigate during the Christmas period.

The Operational Headaches of the Festive Season

The Logistics of Congestion and Crowds

Major metropolitan areas around the world become logistical nightmares in December.

• Traffic and Movement: Travel times are significantly extended due to shopping traffic, seasonal events, and general congestion. This complicates vital procedures like route planning, pre-determined extraction protocols, and maintaining a Principal's timely schedule.
• Crowd Density: Public spaces—shopping districts, Christmas markets, and major event venues—are saturated with people. This dramatically increases the risk of accidental contact, which can quickly be misconstrued, and makes maintaining the crucial "sterile zone" around the Principal extremely challenging. Covert surveillance or maintaining a low profile is compromised.

Increased Principal Risk Due to Socialising

The Principal's social calendar and lifestyle become far less predictable, directly increasing their risk profile:

• Alcohol Consumption: Principals attend multiple holiday parties and functions where alcohol is frequently consumed. This can lead to impaired judgement, reduced compliance with established security protocols, and an overall increase in vulnerability. The Operative's role often shifts from a discreet security shield to an active minder, requiring careful management of safe extraction and non-confrontational conflict resolution.
• Unpredictable Schedules: Standard operating hours often disappear. Last-minute functions, spontaneous venue changes, and extended hours mean the CP team must be highly flexible, prepared for rapid changes, and, crucially, manage debilitating fatigue.
• Relaxed Protocol: The Principal, wanting to "unwind" for the holidays, may attempt to override established security protocols, sometimes requesting less visible protection. The Operative must utilise sharp soft skills to balance essential security requirements with the Principal’s wishes without ever compromising core safety.

Managing Morale and Personal Strain

The most taxing challenge is often the emotional and personal one:

• Separation from Family: CP work demands sacrifice year-round, but being away from one's own family during a major holiday takes a heavy psychological toll. Low morale and distraction can subtly creep into the team, which is a significant, often overlooked, security vulnerability.
• Fatigue and Vigilance: Constant late nights and back-to-back extended shifts lead to accumulated physical and mental exhaustion. Maintaining the required level of vigilance (the OODA Loop) when severely fatigued is a defining test of a professional Operative.

The Environmental and Weather Factor

Operating during the winter months adds layers of difficulty:

• Adverse Weather: Cold, rain, ice, and snow significantly impact driving conditions, visibility, and gear performance. The Operative's reaction time and footing are compromised, especially during rapid movements or extractions.
• Extended Darkness: Shorter daylight hours mean more operational time under the cover of darkness. While this can sometimes aid in discretion, it equally increases the risk of environmental hazards (slips and trips) and reduces visual confirmation of potential threats in low-light conditions.

Increased Threat Visibility

The high-stakes nature of the holiday season acts as a magnet for certain types of crime:

• High-Value Targets: Principals are often carrying or wearing more valuable items (gifts, watches, jewellery) and may have higher cash liquidity, making them a more attractive target for opportunistic street crime.
• Media and Paparazzi: High-profile individuals are frequently under intense scrutiny during the festive period. The CP team must be highly skilled at managing media interaction and maintaining privacy amid the public frenzy.

Professionalism is Non-Negotiable

The operational environment during the holidays is unforgiving and quickly exposes any weaknesses in training, planning, or temperament. It demands a CP Operative who is not just physically capable and tactically sound, but also mentally robust, resilient, and professionally disciplined. It is a period that truly separates the seasoned professionals from the inexperienced.

Stay safe, plan meticulously, and keep your professional standard high, no matter the distraction.

Comments:

Marton Kalanyos: Perfectly summed up…