Private security: A balancing act

---Victoria Beckham: Living in the spotlight means living with security

LONDON, England -- Personal security has become an essential aspect of celebrity life in the 21st century.

An alleged plot to kidnap Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has once again highlighted the dilemma that many high profile stars face: how to maintain a normal life and remain safe from the possible threat of stalkers or abductors.

Tennis star Monica Seles's career was put in jeopardy after she was stabbed in the back by a Steffi Graf fan in April 1993 and former Beatle George Harrison was stabbed 10 times by an attacker who broke into his home in December 1999.

England football captain David Beckham says he is now reviewing his family's security arrangements.

"The first role of a father and husband is to keep his family safe," the soccer star said in a statement.

The Beckham family has already survived another reported plot to snatch Victoria and Brooklyn in 2000, after which a bodyguard was employed.

And two years ago, a man was arrested for cutting the brakes on Beckham's Ferrari.

The couple have spent £150,000 ($233,000) on a customised armoured-plated Mercedes car which is able to withstand gunfire, landmine blasts, and gas attacks.

For today's celebrities, personal security is part of the lifestyle: "There has been a definite rise in personal security in recent years," explains Paul Slaughter, founder and Chief Executive of Task International Ltd, a security company.

"There has been a percentage increase in the requirement for close protection officers for business people overseas as well as celebrities."

---George Harrison: Knife attack injured his lung

The range of services and equipment required for personal security is extensive.

Bodyguards, anti-surveillance, armoured vehicles and home security are just some of the options that stars can choose from.

Securing yourself and your family can also be highly expensive. "You can spend up to £60,000 ($93,600) on fencing (surrounding your home) for example," Slaughter told CNN.

Stars can be faced with a bill that includes a close protection officer for £150-200 ($235-310) a day. Slaughter said that in offering security, the financial factor is very important.

"Some celebrities can't afford the high level of security all of the time, so they can downgrade it (once the immediate threat has passed)," he said.

"Often, high profile celebrities have far too many close protection officers for their requirements, like six or seven, when you consider the UK's prime minister has one. It's sometimes way over the top.

"Security is meant to blend in but some celebrities swamp an area with too many security officers just because they can afford them. It can create a problem as it can attract the wrong kind of people."

When asked whether all celebrities are at risk of having their personal safety endangered, Slaughter replied: "You can't look into the mind of a criminal."

But he added that many stars do get paranoid and over-compensate in their security demands. "With celebrities a lot of it is ego," he said.

When the threat is apparent, like in the case of the Beckhams, there is a fine line between remaining safe and having levels of protection that stop the celebrity living normally.

Slaughter explained how security firms try to counter that problem: "We take into account (the celebrity's) quality of life and where they go. With the Beckhams it's very difficult for them."

But ensuring the personal safety of high profile stars is not as glamorous as it may sound. Working in personal security can be perilous but for "95 percent of the time, nothing happens," Slaughter told CNN.

"In the case of the Beckhams, the close protection officers haven't had to do anything but keep a heightened state of awareness," he said.

With many recruits coming from the special forces, the change to civilian life as a close protection officer can be quite boring. As a result many do month-long contracts to prevent boredom setting in, Slaughter explained.

source: CNN