Just weeks later, due to the increase in the terrorism threat, all those who passed the course were whisked into either Royalty or Special Branch protection roles and my protection career started.
I spent three years as a ‘back up’ close protection officer to the Royal Family and had the privilege of working with some of the original officers who were recruited into the department in 1974 after the attempted abduction of Princess Anne on The Mall.
I learnt a lot. I learnt that textbook protection did not necessarily relate to real-world protection. Principals’ wishes featured heavily in what we could and could not provide. The people we looked after wanted interaction with the public and this carries risks. Everything was about managing the risks, and compromises had to be made.
I often chuckle when many LinkedIn security ‘experts’ chip in with their thoughts on what should have been done in a personal protection incident or security scenario having never worked at that level. The reality is very different to the course or the theory.
Personal protection is a massive imposition on an individual’s life. Some people have to have it from birth to death. Most likely, you won’t be their first ever protection officer! They have a lot of protection experience themselves. There has to be compromise, trust and a certain spark for it all to work. It has to be discreet and unobtrusive. You have to wrap security around what they want to do. You are working to their objectives, not yours. Security isn’t their main concern, it’s yours.
After a promotion to inspector and a few years back on the streets doing some ‘real policing’, I returned to what was then SO1 (Specialist Protection). This was the former Special Branch ‘A Squad’. Whilst there I looked after many government ministers and some high-profile heads of state from around the world. Looking after Nelson Mandela for his 90th birthday was an absolute privilege. Likewise, looking after President Obama on two occasions. I was also a Team Leader for UK protection operations to high threat countries around the world. In total I have delivered security operations in over 50 countries.
In 2015, I returned to Royalty Protection and was assigned to the then Prince of Wales’s team as one of his Personal Protection Officers, spending five years with him.
Life after the police and transition to the private sector
In 2021 I was part of a small team providing security to Team GB in Tokyo for the Olympic Games, and in 2022 I was the Venue Security Manager for the Alexander Stadium for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Later in 2022 I joined the team at the world-renowned Royal Albert Hall as the Senior Strategic Security Manager, leading the internal security team and the contracted external security provider. With over 400 shows per year, and some of the world’s most famous artists wanting to play the venue, this provided many security challenges.
Move to the City
In April 2025, I moved to The City and started at another of London’s iconic domed venues – St. Paul’s Cathedral – as Head of Security and Resilience. Whilst having similar visitor numbers per year to the Royal Albert Hall, the security challenges are very different.
Although it is one of the busiest visitor attractions in the UK it is also, foremost, a working church and place of worship. This brings its own unique security challenges and there are similarities to my former work with the Royal Family, particularly relating to mental health issues.
Security needs to be in place as there was a thwarted plot to bomb the cathedral in 2019, but it also needs to be discreet and unobtrusive, blending into the background where possible, but equally needing to be seen and offer reassurance and a response when required – much like my role in the police. Symbiotic collaborations are required, a realistic assessment of the threats and risks, and then wrapping a realistic security solution around daily business that is proportionate and provides best value.
Having worked in this bespoke arena of security for many years, this 'compassionate' or collaborative style has benefitted me for my non-police roles. Both the Royal Albert Hall and St. Paul's Cathedral are iconic and listed buildings. Imposing 'ideal' or textbook security upon these two places just isn't possible. Yes, 21st-century mitigations are required against 21st- century crime and terrorism
methodologies, but these have to be done in a sympathetic manner so as to blend in with the surroundings and architecture.
This requires some creative and specialist thinking. Due to my connections and
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projects completed in the police, I have been able to implement very discreet and unobtrusive security measures that most people would be unaware of at these two venues. Having high fences, standard CCTV cameras and conventional Hostile Vehicle Mitigation would just not be in keeping with iconic Grade I or II listed buildings. Threats need to be mitigated in other creative ways.
Collaboration with the local police is very important. That was quite easy at the Royal Albert Hall; being ex-Met myself, I was often working with many of my former colleagues. There was still a strong connection to my old department with the regular visits we would receive from HM the King, other members of the Royal Family and internationally protected VIPs for events such as the Festival of Remembrance and the Royal Variety Show.
There is a strong connection at St. Paul's Cathedral with royal visits and state occasions, with events such as the recent 7/7 20th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. I am establishing new connections in the City of London Police, and have been very impressed thus far with the strong, established links we have with them and their very prompt responses to any incidents at the cathedral.
As with the Royal Family, the church does occasionally attract people with mental health problems, and there are a few individuals with fixations on the Bishop of London. Having experience in this area and connections within the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) has proved beneficial already in my new role.
Security is often seen as a ‘hard’ skill and is often imposed on something or someone. Many people in security have quite black and white views on what should and shouldn’t be done, particularly in close protection. Following any high-profile attack or incident, there will be a myriad of ‘experts’ giving their opinions on what could've and should've been done. The reality is somewhat different! In royal and governmental security, principals' wishes will feature heavily in the sort of security that will be accepted and tolerated. Compromises have to be made for security to be effective. If the person will not accept security in a certain form, there will be no effective security.
Scott Hamer
Head of Security and Resilience St. Paul’s Cathedral
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