Brooklyn Beckham has one. Mike Tyson has several. Lib Dem MP Nigel Jones has called for all politicians to have one, but Mo Mowlam has just had hers taken away.

Bodyguards - known in the trade as "protection specialists" - are becoming ever-more popular in the UK.

According to Jim Brown, director of personal security firm Excel, "hundreds" of Britons have their own personal protection teams.

And they are not all celebrities who have featured in Hello magazine.

Mohamed al-Fayed is understood to have more CPOs (close protection officers) than most, with a team of 35 specially-trained professionals following his movements.

But minders are also employed by captains of industry, entertainment moguls, aristocrats, new millionaires concerned for the safety of their children, and even just the paranoid rich.

Per capita, Britain is beaten for bodyguards almost only by Italy, where "kidnapping is practically a national pastime" according to Brown.

But personal security does not come cheap.

Mr Brown estimates that one bodyguard costs about £60k per annum - which means £180k each year for 24-hour protection, and a mind-boggling amount for Mr al-Fayed's levels of security.

MI5 decides

Hundreds of bodyguards are also funded by the state, for public figures considered to be at risk. The amount this costs is secret, but estimated to be in the region of £50m each year.

Current or former ministers, major or minor royals, foreign diplomats and other VIPs, and "special cases" like Salman Rushdie are all entitled to state personal protection.

They have their own particular level of risk assessed by MI5, before the decision is rubber-stamped by the relevant Home Office or Foreign Office minister.

They are then assigned one or more officers from the relevant section of the Metropolitan Police Force - Special Branch for politicians and special cases; the Diplomatic Unit for foreign VIPs and the Royal Protection Squad for the royal family.

Some political positions, such as prime minister, Northern Ireland minister and Home Secretary, carry automatic round-the-clock protection.

This is usually left in place for as long as the individual requests it - but the individual personalities and foibles of the politicians in question are also taken into account.

Dr Mowlam's security - two bodyguards and a specially-trained driver - was said to have been downgraded because she was popular with those thought most likely to carry out a terrorist attack.

On the other hand Lord Mason, Labour Northern Ireland Secretary more than 20 years ago, still has an around-the-clock security team of bodyguards and drivers.

Former Tory NI ministers Lord Mayhew and Tom King are also still guarded by armed officers, although other people who held the post have had their security downgraded since losing office.

Other former ministers who retain 24-hour security are Sir Edward Heath, who was prime minister 25 years ago.

Baroness Thatcher is considered such a target she is even guarded when she travels abroad on personal speaking contracts - for most people, a duty which is left to the host country.

Salman Rushdie's frequent public appearances are understood to have been supported by 10 protection officers, at an estimated cost of £1m a year, since he received a fatwa more than 10 years ago.

'Butlers with guns'

Members of the royal family are considered especially in need of protection - some round-the-clock, some ad-hoc - because of their tendency to attract deranged fans.

Their £30m-a-year personal security needs are looked after by SO14, the Met's Royal Protection Squad, sometimes described by their Special Branch rivals as "butlers with guns".

However, these have recently been pared down. The Earl and Countess of Wessex, for instance, are understood to have lost some of the £1m-a-year security at their Surrey home.

And the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, are thought to be learning to do without their motorcycle outriders.

Last year, they caused a media row by using the highly-trained officers to cut through the London traffic so they would not be late for the Chelsea Flower Show.