Border Force
Border Force (BF) is a law-enforcement command within the Home Office,[1] responsible for frontline border control operations at air, sea and rail ports in the United Kingdom. The force was part of the now defunct UK Border Agency from its establishment in 2008 until Home Secretary Theresa May demerged it in March 2012 after severe criticism of the senior management.[2]
| Border Force | |
|---|---|
Border Force logo | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 March 2012 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Employees | 10,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency (Operations jurisdiction) | United Kingdom |
| Operations jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Legal jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Overviewed by | Independent Office for Police Conduct/His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services/ Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Home Office |
| Facilities | |
| Cutters | |
| Website | |
| www.gov.uk/border-force | |
Border Force was formed on 1 March 2012, becoming accountable directly to ministers. It is responsible for immigration and customs controls and the screening of passengers, freight and port staff at 140 rail, air and sea ports in the UK and western Europe, as well as thousands of smaller airstrips, ports and marinas.[3] The work of the Border Force is monitored by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.
Border Force officers can hold the powers of both customs officers and immigration officers.[4] Their duties also include counter-terrorism, part of which is to detect and deter the illicit importation of radioactive and nuclear material by terrorists or criminals.
Aside from powers listed below in relation to immigration and customs, section 2 of the Borders Act 2007 also allows designated officers of the Border Force to detain anyone for any criminal offence or arrest warrant at a port if the Border Officer thinks they would be liable to arrest by a police constable. The power allows detention for three hours pending the arrival of a police constable. The power also applies to points of entry in Belgium and France where Border Officers work, whereby the Border Officer will turn the detained person over to Belgian or French police officers as appropriate.[5]
History edit
Background and establishment edit
Prior to 2007 three agencies were responsible for border control in the UK:
- Uniformed customs officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (HM Customs and Excise - HMCE - until 2005) dealt with customs
- Immigration and Nationality Directorate dealt with all immigration roles within the UK and at the border,
- and UKVisas issued visas both from the UK and its offices abroad.
As early as 2003, a single "border police force" had been proposed.[6]
In 2005, HMCE and Inland Revenue merged to form HMRC, however HMRC was still responsible for customs control at the border until 2009. Throughout 2006 and 2007 there were suggestions for a merged border control department.[7]
Initially this plan was to turn the Immigration and Nationality Directorate into a uniformed body of Immigration officers at the border, the Border and Immigration Agency. The BIA was created on 1 April 2007. It was short lived and was replaced only a year later on 1 April 2008 by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The UK Border Agency was a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), UKvisas and the port customs functions of HM Revenue and Customs. It created one of the largest law enforcement bodies in the UK.
On 5 November 2011, following various failings of the UKBA, then-Home Secretary Theresa May that an independent inquiry would also be undertaken, led by the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency John Vine.[8] UK Border Force became a separate organisation on 1 March 2012.[9]
After establishment edit
The first Director General of Border Force was the former Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Brian Moore, who was appointed on secondment on an interim basis to last until 31 August 2012 and was expected to apply for the position permanently, despite criticism of his management of passport queues.[10] On 10 July 2012, Immigration Minister Damian Green confirmed that Moore had not applied for the post, despite Moore earlier telling the Home Affairs Select Committee that he would be applying.
Tony Smith was appointed as interim Director General of Border Force on 19 September 2012.[11] Smith was previously Gold Commander for the London 2012 Olympic Programme and Regional Director for London and the South East in the UK Border Agency and has spent forty years in border control and enforcement work.
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Montgomery was named as the new Director General on 25 January 2013.[12]
In June 2017 Montgomery left Border Force and Paul Lincoln (a civil servant from the MOD and Home office) was appointed as the new Director General.[13] Neither of the two had any previous experience of immigration or customs.
Responsibilities edit
The stated responsibilities of the Home Office's Border Force are the following:[14][15]
- checking the immigration status of people arriving in and departing the UK
- searching baggage, vehicles and cargo for illicit goods or illegal immigrants
- patrolling the British coastline and searching vessels
- gathering intelligence
- alerting the police and security services to people of interest
Border Force is responsible for immigration and customs at 140 rail, air and sea ports in the UK and western Europe, as well as thousands of smaller airstrips, ports and marinas.
Organisation and operations edit
Border Force has Six operational regions:
- Central;
- Heathrow;
- North;
- South;
- South East;
- and Europe.
The regions have responsibility for securing the border 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at the UK’s ports, airports, postal depots and rail.
This includes the Eurostar from Brussels and Paris to St Pancras International and the Eurotunnel from Coquelles to Folkestone.
There are approximately 10,000 people who work in BF, according to the UK Government website.[16]
The regions’ varied work includes stopping 100 per cent of passengers arriving at ports, or airports, for immigration controls.
Officers also conduct risk-led interceptions for controlled drugs, cash, tobacco, alcohol, firearms, offensive weapons, prohibited goods, counterfeit goods and clandestine entrants.
They do this at passenger and freight controls, covering passengers travelling on foot, by car, coaches, freight vehicles, as well as air freight and sea containers.
Officers edit
Members of the BF are known as "Border Force officers" and are civil servants, part of HM's Civil Service.
Powers edit
Staff hold a mixture of powers granted to them by their status as immigration officers and designated customs officials. Border Force officers are civil servants.[17][18]
Immigration powers edit
Immigration officers have powers of arrest and detention conferred on them by the Immigration Act 1971 and subsequent Immigration Acts, when both at ports and inland. In practice, non-arrest trained Border Force immigration officers exercise powers under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971, while inland immigration officers work under S28A-H of the Immigration Act 1971 and paragraph 17 of Schedule 2 of the same Act, as do arrest-trained Border Force immigration officers at the frontier.
Historically, port and inland immigration officers received different training to reflect these different approaches to immigration enforcement, which is now reinforced by inland officers working for Immigration Enforcement, a separate Home Office Command.
"Designated Immigration Officers" are Border Force immigration officers who have been designated with additional detention powers, under Sections 1 to 4 of the UK Borders Act 2007, where a person at a port or airport is suspected of being liable to arrest by a police officer for non-border offences.
Customs powers edit
Border Force officers, designated as customs officials under the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, have wide-ranging powers of entry, search, seizure and arrest. They hold the same customs and excise powers as officers of HM Revenue and Customs, but cannot use HMRC powers for non-border matters, such as Income Tax and VAT. Amongst their powers is the ability to arrest anyone who has committed, or whom the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect has committed, any offence under the Customs and Excise Acts. They may also seize prohibited and restricted goods, such as controlled drugs and firearms, as well as ensuring that imported goods bear the correct taxes and duties.[19]
Director-General edit
- Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Montgomery KBE ADC RN, (2013-2017)
- Paul Lincoln OBE (2017–2021)
- Phil Douglas[20] (Nov 2021–present)
Rank insignia edit
Uniformed Border Force officers have their rank displayed on shoulder epaulettes, attached to their shirt, jumper or jacket.
Warranted officers below Senior Officer rank may also have their identification number displayed.[21]
The rank and epaulette styling is in line with many other border agencies and shares close similarities with its Australian counterpart, the Australian Border Force.[citation needed]
| BF Rank | Epaulette Insignia | Personal Number Displayed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant (Civil Service Grade: AA) | Plain[21] | Yes | |
| Assistant Officer (Civil Service Grade: AO) | Single Chevron[21] | Yes | |
| Officer (Civil Service Grade: EO) | Single Bath Star 'Pip'[21] | Yes | |
| Higher Officer (Civil Service Grade: HEO) | 2 Bath Star 'Pips'[21] | Yes | |
| Senior Officer (Civil Service Grade: SEO) | 3 Bath Star 'Pips'[21] | No | |
| Assistant Director (Civil Service Grade: Grade 7) | St Edward's Crown[21] | No | |
| Deputy Director (Civil Service Grade: Grade 6) | St Edward's Crown above a Single Bath Star 'Pip'[21] | No | |
| Director (Civil Service Grade: SCS1) | Single Bath Star 'Pip' above a Laurel wrapped Wheel[21] | No | |
| Chief Operating Officer (Civil Service Grade: SCS2) | St Edward's Crown above a Laurel wrapped Wheel[21] | No | |
| Director General (Civil Service Grade: SCS3) | St Edward's Crown above 2 Bath Star 'Pips' above a Laurel wrapped Wheel[21] | No |
Uniform and equipment edit
All BF officers wear a dark blue uniform (without headgear) and have certain equipment to help them do their jobs.
BF officers always wear their rank and personal number on an epaulette (see above).
Officers carry batons, handcuffs, radios and may wear a stab vest, or equipment vest.[22]
Search dogs edit
BF have a dog unit and dog handlers. There is a training course called the Border Force Initial Detector Dog Handler training course. The BF uses dogs in the 'detector dog' way. [23]
Common travel area edit
Immigration control within the United Kingdom is managed within a wider Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA is an intergovernmental agreement that allows freedom of movement within an area that encompasses the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey, Sark and Alderney) and the Republic of Ireland. Authorised entry to any of the above essentially allows entry to all the others but it is the responsibility of the person entering to ensure that they are properly documented for entry to other parts of the CTA. Despite the CTA it is still possible to be deported from the UK to the Republic of Ireland and vice versa.
Juxtaposed controls edit
Entry to the UK via the Channel Tunnel from France, Belgium or the Netherlands, or by ferry from Calais and Dunkirk in France is controlled by juxtaposed immigration controls. Travellers clear UK passport control in France, Belgium or the Netherlands, while those travelling from the UK to France, Belgium or the Netherlands clear entry border checks to the Schengen Area while in the UK. Belgium and the Netherlands do not maintain controls in the UK as the first Schengen country entered is France. UK Border Force checkpoints in France are operated at the Port of Calais, the Port of Dunkirk, the Eurotunnel Calais Terminal, Calais-Fréthun station ( suspended in 2020), Lille Europe station and Paris Gare du Nord station. For passengers arriving by the Eurostar train from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station, UK border control takes place at the arrival stations in the UK whereas French border controls take place at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. A checkpoint operated at Boulogne-sur-Mer until the port closed in August 2010.
UK Border Force Checkpoints in Belgium operate at Brussels-South railway station.
UK Border Force checkpoints in the Netherlands operate from Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal stations. These began operating on 26 October 2020.[24]
United States border preclearance is an equivalent system operated by that country's equivalent to the UKBF at some airports outside the US.
Vessels edit
All vessels of the Border Force bear the ship prefix "HMC"—His Majesty's Cutter. Between May and October 2015 two of the vessels, HMC Protector and HMC Seeker, were deployed in the Mediterranean conducting search and rescue operations. The Border Force also has a recently chartered vessel named MV VOS Grace.[25]
| Ship | Class | Entered service | Displacement | Type | Homeport | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMC Seeker | UKBF 42m Customs Cutter | 2001 | 257 tonnes | Cutter | ||
| HMC Searcher | UKBF 42m Customs Cutter | 2002 | 257 tonnes | Cutter | ||
| HMC Vigilant | UKBF 42m Customs Cutter | 2003 | 257 tonnes | Cutter | ||
| HMC Valiant | UKBF 42m Customs Cutter | 2004 | 257 tonnes | Cutter | ||
| HMC Protector | Telkkä-class | 2014 | 434 tonnes | Cutter | Portsmouth[26] | [27] |
| HMC Active | 20m RIB | 2016 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [28][29][30] | |
| HMC Alert | 20m RIB | 2016 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [28][29][30] | |
| HMC Eagle | 20m RIB | 2016 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [28][29][30] | |
| HMC Nimrod | 20m RIB | 2016 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [28][29][30] | |
| HMC Hunter | 20m RIB | 2018 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [31] | |
| HMC Speedwell | 20m RIB | 2018 | 31 tonnes | Coastal Patrol Vessel | [31][32] |
-
Seeker
-
Vigilant
-
Valiant
-
Protector
Attack on the Dover Immigration Centre edit
On 30 October 2022 the new Immigration Centre in Dover Harbour was attacked with firebombs thrown from a car.[33] Two members of staff were injured. A suspect was found dead in a vehicle and has been named as Andrew Leak, aged 66, from High Wycombe. Responsibility for investigation is now with Counter Terrorism Policing South East. [34]
Leak's online activities had included far-right content and conspiracy theories. [35] On 5 November 2022 the police stated that the attack "was motivated by a terrorist ideology".[36]
Notable operations and successes edit
- On 23 April 2015, HMC Valiant assisted by HMS Somerset who had NCA officers on board, Intercepted the MV Hamal, a tug, and after she was searched in Aberdeen the largest UK drug seizure of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine was found onboard, in her forward ballast tank. There was so much on board it took three days to remove and had to be placed under armed guard.[37][38][39][40]
- On 31 July 2017, Border Force won a court case where a judge declared child sex dolls to be an obscene item after a seizure of one was challenged.[41][42]
- On 31 January 2018, Border Force officers at Farnborough Airport became suspicious after a routine boarding and inspection of a private jet from Colombia, and upon a Customs search; discovered 500 kg of cocaine worth a street value of £50,000,000 in fifteen suitcases.[43][44][45]
- During the 2015 European migrant crisis, Border Force rescued over 1,650 migrants and arrested 27 suspected people smugglers over one summer as part of the EU Mission in the Mediterranean Sea.[46][47][48]
- In February 2017, Border Force took part in Operation Thunderbird organised by INTERPOL to tackle wildlife crime and wildlife trafficking. Border Force officers made 182 seizures during the operation, which ran between 30 January and 19 February. Among the items found were 11 kilos of ivory, 600,000 live eels, 74 live orchids, eight cacti, 13 reptile skin products, around 3,500 musical instruments containing CITES wood.[49][50]
- In December 2012, Border Force seized 1.2 tonnes of fake CDs at Manchester Airport[51][52]
- A couple were convicted in April 2013 for trying to smuggle a Nigerian baby into the UK, claiming it was their own. They were stopped and investigated after Border Force officers became suspicious [53][54]
- Border Force Detector dog Megan became the most successful UK drug detector dog. Over a seven-year period with Border Force, she foiled 102 smuggling attempts into the UK. She retired in March 2014.[55][56]
- Another Border Force detector dog, Jessie found £1,000,000 being smuggled over a five-month period.[57][58]
- Two separate attempts to smuggle birds into the UK inside suitcases was prevented by Border Force officers at Leeds Bradford Airport in May 2013.[59]
- Twelve critically endangered iguanas seized from smugglers by Border Force officers at London Heathrow Airport have been returned home to their native Bahamas. The reptiles were discovered in the baggage of two Romanian nationals on 3 February 2014 by officers carrying out customs checks.[60][61][62]
- In September 2015, Border Force officers seized a tonne of cannabis at London Gateway port. It came after 2 tonnes were seized there in February 2015.[63][64]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Border Force". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Theresa May to split up UK Border Agency". BBC News. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "Home Secretary's statement on border security - Oral statements to Parliament - GOV.UK". Homeoffice.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "New Customs officers Oath - a Freedom of Information request to Home Office". WhatDoTheyKnow. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "UK Borders Act 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Expert Participation. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "UK needs 'border security force'". News.bbc.co.uk. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Reid plans border-control force". News.bbc.co.uk. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ Chris Mason (5 November 2011). "Inquiry into border agency passport check claims". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ "Theresa May to split up UK Border Agency". BBC News. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ David Millward (22 May 2012). "Border Force chief faces battle to keep job over threat of four-hour immigration queues during Olympics". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ Home Affairs Select Committee, 18 September 2012
- ^ "New Director General of Border Force announced". Home Office. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ "New Director-General of Border Force appointed". Gov.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Inside government: Border Force". UK Government (gov.uk). Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "About – Border Force". Gov.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ Force, Border. "Border Force - Do the Search". careers.homeoffice.gov.uk. GOV UK. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Border Force drafts in agency staff for first time as no-deal Brexit looms". Civil Service World. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ Editor, Matt Dathan, Home Affairs. "Border Force officers could strike over 'turnback' plan for Channel migrant boats". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ . Office of Public Sector Information. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ "Phil Douglas".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/328443/Annex_A_-_FOI_30960_Mrs_Hair.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ This is Local, London. "The Growing Significance of Border Force Throughout the Pandemic (Eden Hartley Tiffin Boys School)". This Is Local London. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Force, Border. "Job: Border Force - South East & Europe - Heathrow - South Region - Dog Handler". Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Eurostar to launch £40 Amsterdam to London trains". BBC News. 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Migration: Mediterranean Sea: Written question - 24322". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ HMC Protector: Customs patrol boat launched, bbc.com, 17 March 2014 - "It will be located in Portsmouth and will operate around the UK coastline."
- ^ "Home Secretary launches new Border Force cutter to protect UK coastline". gov.uk. HM Government. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d Sheldrick, Giles (17 October 2016). "Patrol boat deployed in English Channel as Calais 'Jungle' prepares to be demolished". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d "New Border Force patrol boats will tackle people traffickers in the English Channel". Kent Live. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Pyman, Tom. . Kent News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ a b Johnson, Jamie; Hymas, Charles (21 January 2019). "Border Force ships ordered to patrol the Channel for migrants are still in the Mediterranean". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "CPV SPEEDWELL (SAR) Registered in United Kingdom - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 235118134, Call Sign 2JQQ5". www.marinetraffic.com.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew (30 October 2022). "Petrol bombs thrown at immigration centre in Dover". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Counter Terrorism Police now leading investigation into incident at Dover immigration centre". Kent Police. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Dover migrant centre attacker had a history of far-right views". Hope not Hate. November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "ATTACK AT DOVER INVESTIGATION UPDATE FROM COUNTER TERRORISM POLICING SOUTH EAST". counterterrorism.police.uk. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ Clarke, Aileen; Sleight, Christopher (11 July 2016). "How the UK's biggest drugs bust was made". BBC News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Williams, Greg. "Cocaine, tug boats and tip offs: the inside story of the largest drug bust in UK history". Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Two jailed over record cocaine seizure". BBC News. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Two guilty of smuggling £512m of cocaine". BBC News. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Child sex doll an obscene item, judge rules". BBC News. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Shaw, Danny (31 July 2017). "The 'new phenomenon' of child sex dolls". BBC News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Cocaine 'worth £50m' found on private jet". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Five in court over £50m cocaine haul on jet". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Huge UK Cocaine Seizure on Private Jet Signals Traffickers' Growing Boldness". InSight Crime. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Border Force cutters return from Mediterranean search and rescue operations". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Border Force cutter in Mediterranean migrant rescue mission". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Migrant rescue ships return to UK". BBC News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Border Force's role in Operation Thunderbird - Home Office in the media". homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Dawson/Reuters, Simon (20 December 2017). "Bear bile and snakeskin boots: illegal goods seized at Heathrow – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift CDs among one tonne of fakes found by Border Force". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Massive haul of fake CDs seized at Manchester Airport". ITV News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Oxford Pair Convicted For Baby Smuggling". Heart Thames Valley. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Couple convicted over baby smuggling attempt". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Border Force dog prevents more than 100 drug smuggling attempts". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Megan's got a nose for trouble". Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Hero spaniel sniffs out £1m cash smuggled through Heathrow in 5 months". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Super spaniel sniffs out £1 million in 5 months". ITV News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Birds smuggled in suitcases found at Leeds Bradford Airport". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Smuggled iguanas returned home by Border Force". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Perry, Keith (3 April 2014). "Stuffed in socks: 13 iguanas smuggled into UK in a suitcase". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Smuggled Iguanas Returned to Bahamas by Border Force". www.nwcu.police.uk. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Tonne of cannabis seized by Border Force at London Gateway". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Cannabis worth over £5m seized at London Gateway". Echo. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
External links edit
- Official website