Border Force officer job

By conducting immigration and customs inspections at ports, personnel of the Border Force protect the legality of products and persons moving through the United Kingdom's borders while also ensuring their safety.

What exactly do officers of the border force do? Important prerequisites include: physical fitness, academic credentials, professional experience, and ongoing instruction.

Because the United Kingdom Border Force is a division of the Home Office, if you were to join it, the government would be your employer. Officers of the Border Force make use of the information and resources at their disposal, as well as their knowledge of the law and the strategic goals set out by the government, in order to maintain the integrity of the United Kingdom's border at all times and ensure that it remains secure. You have the opportunity to serve as a member of the Border Patrol at airports, seaports, and ports that are situated inside train stations.

Typical tasks consist of the following:

Those entering the nation should be questioned about their motivations for doing so, and those who seem to be acting suspiciously should be identified.

checking to see that individuals possess all of the necessary travel documentation (such as passports)

performing searches (of persons, baggage, cars, and cargo) to look for goods that are unlawful or forbidden, such as guns, narcotics, endangered flora or animals, and other similar things.

the investigation into whether or not illegal immigrants are being transported (eg by searching vehicles)

making arrests

serving as a witness in a legal proceeding

bringing complaints to the attention of the security services

collecting information that may be utilized to inform future decisions about border control

contributing to the accomplishment of strategic goals, such as assisting to fight terrorism or trafficking in people

Important requirements

You will be required to do the following while working as a border patrol agent:

be at least 18 years old.

possess a valid and complete driver's license.

be a citizen of the United Kingdom and have a passport that is complete and current.

Please supply the necessary papers for the pre-employment screening as well as the security clearance.

Conditioning of the body

The job of an officer with the border patrol may be physically taxing at times. Personal Safety Training (PST), which teaches skills in preserving personal safety and requires new recruits to submit a health declaration as part of the training, was formerly required to be completed by all new recruits and passed with a passing grade. Despite the fact that the guideline about the PST has been deleted from the GOV.UK website, it is quite probable that you will still be obliged to reach or acquire a particular level of health and physical fitness.

Qualifications

After earning a degree from an academic institution, the next step for many individuals is to work as a border patrol agent. It's possible that the theoretical aspects of the position will be easier for you to understand if you've already earned expertise in a similar area. These are some good examples:

a Higher National Diploma in Police Work

a law degree

a psychology degree

a criminology degree.

If you do not have a degree, you have the option of beginning your career in the Border Patrol as a Border Patrol Assistant Officer and working your way up to the rank of Border Patrol Officer. For this, it is likely that you will need five GCSEs with grades of grade 4 or above (A* to C). You also have the option of applying straight to the training program for border patrol agents if you already possess two A levels with grades of E or above or the equivalent.

Training

The training for this has traditionally lasted about fourteen weeks, and its purpose is to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the relevant laws, procedures, and precautions to take for your own personal safety. You will get preparation for the practical part of the job during this period as well, as you will be working with trainers in classrooms and operating areas to acquire experience during this time.

Key skills

If you are good at maintaining your composure in high-pressure circumstances and have the ability to speak effectively with others, you could be a good candidate for the post. The most important characteristics are:

good observing skills

the ability to comprehend complex situations and provide rational solutions using reasoning

outstanding communication abilities, including the capacity to modify one's approach according to the needs of a variety of individuals and situations

the capacity for producing legible writing

computer literacy, which includes the ability to maintain records and enter information

the capacity for unbiased thinking and effort, with an emphasis on analysis.

good teamworking skills

a good eye for detail.

You'll need to be willing and able to work flexibly if you want to be a border patrol officer: in terms of timings, as you'll work in shifts to ensure that the 24/7 operation is covered; in terms of adjusting your approach and actions according to changes in priorities (for example, strategies from the government); and possibly in terms of location, as strategic objectives may require you to work across different sites.