** Border Force Officer - Holyhead

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair, and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration, and passports.

Border Force is a law enforcement arm of the Home Office. We are responsible for handling the UK border control by implementing immigration and customs regulations and working with the wider Home Office on counter terrorism, organised crime, modern slavery, and trafficking. Learn more on the Border Force careers page.

As a Border Force Officer based in Holyhead, the second busiest roll-on-roll off cargo port in the UK and the principal crossing from North Wales and Northern England to Ireland, you will have the opportunity to be involved in the full remit of Border Force’s operational law enforcement activities. Due to high volumes of freight, foot and car passenger arrivals our teams cover immigration, customs, international trade and radionuclide screening.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that secures the UK Border, safeguards vulnerable people and makes a real difference to everyday life. Our work is varied and rewarding with the opportunity to learn new skills and develop expert knowledge.

Job description

As a Border Force Officer, you will be at the frontline of our operation to maintain the security of the UK border. 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 and 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.

Key Responsibilities:

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.
• 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.

Based at a key strategic location, your role will provide regular variety, and you will be involved in delivering some of Border Force’s key priorities, such as counter terrorism, tackling human trafficking and safeguarding the vulnerable. Our work can be difficult at times, but you will always have the support of a team, not just at the start but throughout your career with Border Force.

For more information about working for Border Force and to hear from some of our colleagues, please visit our careers website at Border Force - Home Office Careers.

Border Force North Region

The port of Holyhead is with Border Force North Region, which covers a large geographical area; it spans four countries, encompasses 78 ports and has responsibility for the land boundary between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the UK’s busiest Common Travel Area route between Dublin and Holyhead. In the region there are 17 major airports, including the third largest in the UK in Manchester, eight large maritime ports, and the most dispersed general maritime and general aviation sites in the UK.

Working Pattern

Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts, which can be up to 12 hours in duration and include early starts, late night finishes and overnight shifts. Rosters are pre-planned and cover weekdays, weekends and public holidays to meet the 24/7 operational demands of the role. Shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.

You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting your application. You will be required to work between 22.00 and 06.00, so this is a legal requirement. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/night-working-hours

We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made, to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location. Please note that full shifts, of up to 12 hours, will be required even if a part-time contract is sought.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. This will include Public and Personal Safety Training (Level 3), which will teach you skills in personal safety and restraint techniques to keep you and your team colleagues safe. Training takes place initially in the classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.

Information Session

To learn more about this role and how to apply, register for one of our free, optional live events. Click the date and time that suits you below.

• Tuesday 6th October, 14.00-15.00

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-a-difference-become-a-border-force-officer-at-holyhead-tickets-2002121359883?aff=oddtdtcreator

• Thursday 8th October, 18.00-19.00

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-a-difference-become-a-border-force-officer-at-holyhead-tickets-2002122135202?aff=oddtdtcreator

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable professionalism, integrity and sound judgement, acting ethically, impartially and honestly while making difficult decisions when required.
• Able to build effective relationships and communicate confidently, working collaboratively with others and influencing a wide range of stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptable, remaining flexible and responding effectively to changing circumstances, challenges and complex situations.
• Displays leadership potential, role modelling professional behaviours, maintaining high standards, motivating others and communicating clearly.
• Able to use analytical and problem-solving skills to gather information from multiple sources, assess evidence objectively and make well-reasoned recommendations.

Qualifications

You must hold GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grades 4-9 (C-A*) at the time of application.

Please note that we will also accept equivalent qualifications at the same level achieved from a wide range of formal academic and vocational training providers as determined by Ofqual, including, for example, qualifications obtained in Scotland or some BTEC and higher level NVQs. For more information visit What qualification levels mean: Overview - GOV.UK.

You must have already been awarded the qualifications and must be able to provide your certificates during Pre-Employment Checks should you be made a provisional offer. If you fail to do so, or do not hold the required qualification, your offer will be withdrawn.

Licences

Due to the nature of the work, which involves travel by official vehicles to other ports and locations, driving is a key requirement for this role. It is essential for applicants to hold a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence at time of application.

You will be checked at interview stage for this and asked to confirm you hold one when you apply.

Qualifications

You must hold GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grades 4-9 (C-A*) at the time of application. Please see further information above.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

• In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

  • A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
  • In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
  • 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
  • Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the followingCivil Service Verbal Test and Customer Service Skills tests.

1. Online Test – by 13th OCTOBER 2026

If you successfully pass the Civil Service Verbal Test and the Customer Service Skills tests, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online tests or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Following successful completion of your tests, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2. Application – by 13th OCTOBER 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3. Sift – 15th OCTOBER 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement.

4. Interview – 26th OCTOBER 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviour based questions and Strength based questions.

The interview will take place online via Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The behaviours and strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Appearance

This is a uniformed post and as such requires the highest standards. Further information on this and policies regarding tattoos can be found on our website.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Criminal Record Check

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : HORCCampaignTeamBFBSCandPSG@homeoffice.gov.uk
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamBFBSCandPSG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOcandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)candidate_information_v18_July_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 8MB)