The Guernsey Border Agency is the
law enforcement body charged with tackling cross border crime and administering the customs and immigration systems for the
Bailiwick of Guernsey. The agency is headed by a Chief Officer - Patrick Rice (Head of Law Enforcement)
The Agency has been established in shadow form following a decision to separate the executive functions of setting strategy and policy (which will be the responsibility of the Home Department and a law enforcement commission) and operational law enforcement. The island has had an integrated customs and immigration function since 1975. The new agency brings financial crime and drugs responsibilities to the new agency from the Guernsey Police.
The agency has around 90 officers and staff. It has a
cutter and can call on mutual aid from
French customs and
UK Border Force
Border Force (BF) is a law-enforcement command within the Home Office, 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 estab ...
aircraft and vessels if required.
The agency is based at New Jetty, White Rock,
St Peter Port
St. Peter Port (french: Saint-Pierre Port) is a town and one of the ten parishes on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is the capital of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2019 was 18,958.
St. P ...
, Guernsey.
Officers
The GBA is a uniformed force of customs officers who have powers of arrest, search and detention.
Uniform
Operational Uniform
The operational uniform consists of:
*black polo shirt
*black trousers
*black jacket
*high-visibility stab/equipment vests
*rank slides
Baseball caps and life jackets are worn for marine duties.
Service (formal) dress
The service dress (worn for court, parades, formal occasions etc.) is a classic British customs officer uniform, consisting of:
*Dark blue naval-style tunic/jacket
*Dark blue trousers
*White shirt
*Tie
*White-topped peaked cap (males) with GBA capbdage
*White-topped bowler cap (females) with GBA capbadge
*Polished suit shoes
Equipment
GBA officers do not carry firearms, but carry similar equipment to UK and Channel Island police and enforcement agencies:
*Baton
*Incapacitant spray
*Handcuffs
*Secure radio
*Torch
Pay
The Government website states that the pay for a Customs Officer (Grade 3) is:
''Grade: 3 - £28,441 to £40,102''
References
* States of Guernsey website
* GBA business plan
Border guards
Law enforcement agencies of Guernsey
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