What Can a Bodyguard Legally Do in Germany?

If you are considering close protection in Germany, one question comes up early: what is a bodyguard actually allowed to do? The honest answer is less dramatic than the movies. A bodyguard in Germany has no special powers. Good protection relies on planning, awareness and prevention – not on authority.

Note: this article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific case, please consult a lawyer.

The basis: §34a of the Trade Regulation Act

Security work is a licensed trade in Germany. Anyone protecting people or property commercially needs a permit under §34a GewO, and personal protection falls squarely within it.

Staff must at least complete an IHK instruction course; in practice, the §34a certificate of competence (Sachkundeprüfung) is the usual standard for close protection officers. It covers law, dealing with people and de-escalation. Companies and staff are also listed in a national security register.

What the permit does not do is grant police powers. §34a(5) GewO states that security staff have only the rights any citizen has, plus those the client transfers to them by contract.

Not the police: what a bodyguard cannot do

A bodyguard may not:

• check IDs or force anyone to give their details,
• search people or bags against their will (except with consent under delegated house rules, e.g. as a condition of entry),
• order people away from public spaces,
• stop photographers or passers-by from filming in public,
• use force "just in case".

Anyone promising more is promising something unlawful.

Self-defence and defence of others (§32 StGB)

In an emergency, the key legal tool is self-defence. Under §32 of the Criminal Code, anyone may repel a present, unlawful attack – including one aimed at someone else. That is exactly what a bodyguard relies on when defending a client.

The response must be necessary: the mildest means that reliably ends the attack. Professionals use distance, shielding and a quick exit first. Physical force is the last resort. German law also recognises "necessity" (§34 StGB) in narrow cases.

Citizen's arrest (§127 StPO)

If someone is caught in the act of a crime, anyone may temporarily detain them if they might flee or cannot be identified on the spot – but only to hand them over to the police, and only with proportionate means. In practice, the client's safety comes first: a bodyguard does not leave the client to chase a suspect.

House rules – only when delegated

House rules (Hausrecht) belong to the owner, tenant or event organiser. A bodyguard can only enforce them if that right is transferred – for example at a private event or residence. See our pages on event security and property protection in Hamburg, which we provide together with partners.

What you can – and cannot – ask for

You can expect your bodyguard to accompany and shield you, plan routes, assess risks, act in an emergency and call the police, enforce delegated house rules politely, and stay discreet.

You cannot ask for intimidation, confiscating phones, searches without consent or following people. A reputable professional will decline. Before hiring, check the company's §34a permit, staff qualifications, a written contract and liability insurance. More on choosing a provider: security company in Hamburg.

How we work

Our founder Vadim Dischewski has worked in personal protection since 2008; DV Company works from Hamburg, across Germany and, by arrangement, in Europe. See personal protection, child escort and bodyguard cost.

Talk to us

Want to know what makes sense – and is legal – in your situation? We offer a free, confidential initial consultation. Just use the enquiry form on our website.

Not legal advice. As of October 2026.