Border Force Officer

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counterterrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration, and passports. We are Border Force, a Law Enforcement arm of the Home Office with primary responsibility for UK Border Security.

We are responsible for handling the UK border control by implementing Immigration and Customs regulations whilst working with the wider Home Office on Counter Terrorism, Organised Crime, Modern slavery, and Trafficking.

Border Force has six operational regions within the UK: Central, Europe, Heathrow, North, South, Southeast. These regions have responsibility for securing the border 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at the UK's 140 seaports, airports, 200+ general aviation ports, postal depots, and international rail networks.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that both protects and enhances the UK economy. Our work is varied and rewarding, attracting people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

As a Border Force Officer at the frontline of our operation, your contributions will have a direct impact in delivering what the public expect from us. Your role at port will facilitate the clearance of passengers and goods from all over the world, representing the UK, while directly maintaining national Border Security in your role.

The role our Officers perform is dynamic, fast -paced and always evolving. You can expect to join a team where together we make a real difference to everyday life. Our work can be difficult and challenging but there will always be your team to support you throughout your career, not just the start. The part you play will be a fundamental aspect in how we maintain the security of the UK Border. Our work is high profile within public interest as we deliver the Home Office's wider policy agenda to keep our country safe and prosperous.

Border Security includes a wide range of systems that function in tandem to facilitate a world class border the public expects. Our intention is to enable the flow of passengers and goods quickly and effectively through the Primary Control entry points, while refusing entry to the UK when appropriate and required. This includes checking passengers to ensure travel and trade is optimal whilst ensuring our legal duties towards Customs, Freight, Immigration, Safeguarding are always upheld.

Our operational activity is intelligence-driven with searches for prohibited, counterfeit or restricted goods (such as drugs, firearms, weapons, cash, tobacco, and alcohol) as well as people of interest.

As a Border Force Officer, you may be involved in the following types of activity:

• Operating immigration and customs controls at points of entry to the UK, checking passengers have the correct permissions and documentation to enter.


• Identifying vulnerable adults and children, prioritising their safety and welfare and referring to the appropriate agencies.


• Interviewing passengers, undertaking investigations, and making decisions on whether they qualify for entry to the UK or fall to be refused under the immigration rules.


• Identifying and searching people, goods, and vehicles to establish if a customs offence has been committed.


• Using law enforcement powers to arrest people involved in border offences, preserving evidence, managing the detention of individuals, and liaising with other law enforcement partners.


• If involved in International Trade, you will be responsible for the movement and clearance of imported and exported goods across a range of International Trade/Customs regimes and undertake post-detection action in respect of any irregularities identified.