SECURITY INSIGHTS · PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Security Costs in London: 6 Practical Hiring Questions
Security costs in London depend on the role, the setting and the responsibilities involved. A single hourly number cannot describe a door-supervisor shift, a close-protection assignment and a confidential investigation equally well. Begin by identifying the service, location and hours before comparing quotations.
By IBS Protection · Updated 29 October 2026
Guarding and door-supervisor rate guide
| Assignment | Per officer / hour | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £23.75 | Agreed standard conditions |
| Christmas | £43.50 | Exact dates and hours confirmed in quote |
| New Year | £48.00 | Exact dates and hours confirmed in quote |
Security costs start with the service
IBS Protection serves East and Central London. The team discusses the brief with you and prepares a quotation for the actual assignment. An enquiry starts that conversation; it does not reserve an officer or create a confirmed booking.
The standard guarding guide
For standard direct-client static guarding and door-supervisor assignments, the guide rate is £23.75 per officer per hour. A direct booking has a six-hour minimum. For one officer over six hours, the basic labour calculation is 1 × 6 × £23.75 = £142.50.
For two officers over eight hours, the same standard-rate calculation is 2 × 8 × £23.75 = £380. These are examples for the stated service and standard conditions. They do not include additional requirements unless expressly agreed. The written quotation confirms the total security costs for the agreed assignment.
What changes security costs?
Required hours, simultaneous duties, entrances, venue conditions and the number of officers all matter. If one officer needs to remain at a door, that officer cannot also be assumed to cover another area continuously. Tell the team what must happen at the same time.
Peak demand, special equipment, short-notice availability and holiday work can also change the proposal. There is no automatic universal weekend or night surcharge published here. The team confirms whether any adjustment applies to the dates and duties in your enquiry.
Holiday work and specialist services
The holiday guide discussed for guarding and door-supervisor work is £43.50 per officer per hour for Christmas assignments and £48 for New Year assignments. The exact holiday dates and hours to which a rate applies must be confirmed in the quotation. These figures are not a blanket rate for all bank holidays.
Close protection, investigations and covert operations receive individual quotations. Specialist work should not be calculated by selecting a standard guarding rate. Security-company subcontracting also has separate commercial terms and an eight-hour minimum.
Minimum hours, confirmation and VAT
Direct assignments normally require at least six hours and confirmation a minimum of three hours before the shift starts, subject to availability and acceptance of the brief. This is a confirmation requirement, not a promise that an officer can always be supplied within three hours.
I&B Security Protection LTD is not currently VAT registered and does not currently add VAT to its charges. Your quotation will set out the applicable charges and arrangements. A future change in VAT status would need to be reflected in the published information and quotation.
Compare the brief as well as the price
When reviewing a quotation, check the number of officers, shift length, duties, equipment and who is responsible for management and reporting. Comparing security costs is easier when each quote covers the same duties and duration. A lower total may cover fewer hours or a different role. Ask what happens if the programme changes or the assignment needs to run longer.
Prepare the location, date, start and finish times, service and estimated staffing requirement. If you do not know the number of officers, explain the tasks instead. This gives the team a useful starting point for a conversation and a tailored quotation.
Further reading
SIA guidance on security roles provides independent background for planning. The applicable service and charges are agreed directly with IBS Protection.
The setting shapes the brief.
Entrances, equipment and responsibilities help determine the support required. These illustrative scenes show different settings for discussion.
Illustrative images created with AI; not named clients or company assignments.
Useful next steps
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Talk through your requirements.
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