WMPeople: Phil Southan – Close Protection Officer

In the second in our new interview series looking at the people behind West Midlands Police - WMPeople - we speak to Close Protection Officer Phil Southan.

He’s trained to protect “principals” against everything from stalkers and sinister threats to over-zealous fans who risk embarrassing high-profile guests with interminable handshakes or gushing embraces. It’s a role that sees him trained in close-quarters combat and driving manoeuvres more akin to Hollywood, California, than Holly