The cult of celebrity these days is such that it is not just the stars of stage, screen and football pitch that are in the limelight but those involved in the feeding-frenzy that often accompanies them. And the greater the hype, the bigger the need for protection for the individuals involved, to protect them from the publicity they very often actively courted in the first place.

So next time you see a red carpet ceremony on television, check the background and you will see the security hired by the stars to keep them from harm.

In most cases they are not the US-style men in black with the flash guns reflecting off their dark sunglasses talking into their lapels but, nevertheless, they are a presence on hand to act, often keeping celebrity and fans apart or blocking an over-zealous paparazzo.

And, of course, demand for this type of security is on the increase, which is where firms such as the Security and Protection Agency come in.

Set up by Tim Butt two years ago, SPA combines executive and VIP security with what is known as “asset protection” that can be arranging protection for a particular premises at a particular time.

Based in Banbury, SPA can also act as a private detective agency using techniques and surveillance to investigate fraud, staff absenteeism, matrimonial and infidelity issues, benefit claims, insurance irregularities and a host of other personal and/or professional issues.

In these cases still and video cameras can be used to provide clients with covert photographic and video evidence, which is then admissable in court. Every client’s needs are different and SPA can act as an advisor for particular individual situations.

Mr Butt, 44, said: “A client will say what they want but we can point out areas where security is not sufficient and advise them on what we think is required.”

As well as celebrity and sporting events, business clients can come from places such as Saudi Arabia, with visiting dignitaries requiring low-level security.

Naturally, a security threat to an individual or organisation will be dealt with by the police.

That said, if something unexpected does happen, most of SPA’s people come from a police or miltary background and are trained in close protection.

One recent job was to provide security at the Decoma Exterior Systems plastic injection moulding plant in Banbury, where a number of staff were being made redundant. A four-strong team was hired to guard against possible recriminations.

Another call came in from a company to track a member of staff who had called in sick when it was known they wanted to go abroad for a holiday. The individual was then tracked to the airport.

These days you would expect top celebrities to have the best security, but incidents can happen at any time.

Mr Butt himself quotes the recent example of X Factor judge Dannii Minogue who left the studios and got into her chauffeur-driven car, only to be joined by an over-zealous fan and two photographers.

“The security was at fault there, and that might be down to the management company,” said Mr Butt.

“That sort of thing does not happen very often — good security is down to good planning. Someone might inadvertently turn up you were not aware of.

“It happened once where we were doing hotel security and a couple of women knew someone there and tried to bluff their way in.

“You have to be vigilant and try and be aware of what is happening.”

Mr Butt’s experience started when he joined the Army in 1986, and he soon became involved in security duties, which served him well when he joined Thames Valley Police five years later and, in 1996, he joined the Protection Group Firearms Team protecting members of the Royal family and senior politicians.

He decided to leave the police to start the business, which would allow him more freedom to make his own decisions, and now he has built up a contact base of about 50 specialist security experts whom he can call on for any given situation, depending on the client’s needs.

Mr Butt admits most of his contracts are short-term and is now trying to develop his business by building up repeat business, negotiating longer-term deals.

While most of his work centres on London, he has also travelled abroad on contracts as far as Australia and Germany.

It is one of those careers where you never know where the next call may take you and who you may meet, and as our hunger for celebrity seems to snowball, it seems there will always be a demand for his services.

o Contact: 0845 643 1811 Web: www.security-protection-agency.com