Border Force Officer VS Police Constable

I've recently started an apprenticeship for a Level 3 Operational Delivery qualification with Border Force but I've waited over a year to be given a start date. While I was waiting I also applied to the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship which means I'll be working while studying to gain a Policing degree, fully funded by the Police. Which makes it very appealing to me as Degrees are normally very expensive.

The Police have now come back to me offering for me to be able to start on the course. Initially I thought the Police would be better as it is a degree qualification and I believe that could lead to better career progression but I am unsure as after comparing the starting salary I have noticed I get paid £4000 more annually as a Border Force Officer due to Shift allowance, even when the Police allowance has also been considered and this Border Force shift allowance would continue if I applied to higher, better paid roles in the same region.

I'm interested in both careers as they have similarities. My main concern is future career prospects and the possibility of getting promoted and what career would provide better financial prospects too.

Do you have any advice for what career I should choose?

I’m currently a PC in year 3 of the PCDA and I’ve recently applied to the border force.

Money wise as a PC is shocking for the amount of responsibility we carry, I used to earn more four years ago selling mobile phones 🤦*♂️. I’d be getting a £7k pay rise as a BF officer, which is very appealing.
Although the pension is better as a PC, honestly o don’t see myself getting to that age if I carry on as a PC, mainly due to the constant stress and pressure of the job. The degree also isn’t helping, you’re going to be spending a lot of your days off doing assignment, when you should be resting.

I’ve been assaulted three times within the last year, one needed hospital treatment.

Apart from the other after 7 years o feel there is no rewards unless your lucky enough to work Bank holiday shifts to bump up your pay.

I’m 30 now, I’m finally come to the realisation that there’s more to life than working and the police, I want to come home, enjoy my days off and get paid reasonable amount for the job I do.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions, I’ll be as honest as I can.

Thank you for your response. When you reach the very end of your PCDA are you given opportunities to specialise in areas or is that not as realistic or broad as advertised? For example, how possible would it be to get on a dog handler or detective pathway after the 3 years? Also, do you get paid a basic salary, area allowance depending on your region and then a unsociable hours shift allowance on top?

It appears that this was a very stressful 3 years you've had. Border Force should definitely be more relaxed and you'll have more time to enjoy your rest days. I hope you get the job.

Hi! So I've been in the BF Apprenticeship for 5 months now and I can't lie, I love it! however from what I've gathered it all depends on the teams you're in and what your HOs are like, as some people in our boat that I've spoken to from round the country have had terrible experiences due to lack of effort from management, talent coaches etc. That being said, I've also met quite a few ex police officers who have moved over to Border Force, and they prefer it here due to less abuse received from the public. Bear in mind that most Border Force roles are public facing so you won't be entirely sheltered from the public eye 😬

Ayy good luck! Have you gotten your start date yet?

I'm in Birmingham! feel free to drop me a DM at any point if you decide to accept the start date

Hey! I’ve also applied for the central region for a BFO, due my OAC’s sometime in June. Is your apprenticeship a permanent role?

haha yeah it is a bit of a ball ache waiting for all the pre employment checks, mine took about 10 months from the job offer to the start date. Depending on who you ask though, it really is the perfect job - something different happening every day, opportunity to travel all over the country and maybe across the world if that's your thing, saving lives of vulnerable people and potentially ruining the lives of those on the wrong side of the law etc. It's definitely a unique job. drop me a DM if you end up working in the Midlands

Hi! So I've been in the BF Apprenticeship for 5 months now and I can't lie, I love it! however from what I've gathered it all depends on the teams you're in and what your HOs are like, as some people in our boat that I've spoken to from round the country have had terrible experiences due to lack of effort from management, talent coaches etc. That being said, I've also met quite a few ex police officers who have moved over to Border Force, and they prefer it here due to less abuse received from the public. Bear in mind that most Border Force roles are public facing so you won't be entirely sheltered from the public eye 😬

Been told I’ve passed the final online assessment, what are the next steps that happen?Also is there a medical? If so what does the medical involve and the requirements please.

Thank you for responding so quick!Great to get some more info about this, I’m currently a prison officer so I know the process takes foreverrrr. I applied down south for the Dover/Folkestone location.Is there no fitness test,eye test or hearing test?Many thanks

Haha no worries, just struggling to sleep in this heat so I thought I'd browse the forums. Dover I think is more seaport/lorry work so you'll be hunting for clandestines and seizing illegal goods and drugs etc. It's a great job and I reckon you'll be put on a bunch of rummage training courses too. Regarding tests, for a all officers that deal with the public, whether in airports, seaports or custody etc, you will have to do PST 3 once you're in the job. Usually you'll get a date for this within the first few months. For a prison officer like yourself I'm sure it'll be piss. 5 day course. Starts with the basics, how to throw a punch and kick, how to run past your opponent to escape etc. Then it escalates to arm locks, different methods of cuffing, takedowns, verbal commands etc. Basically you'll get your wrists done in and thrown to the floor for a solid 5 days lol. Also covers how to use limb restraints, cable tie cuffs, which you'll probably use a lot of being at Dover, and how to administer CPR, how to use a defibrillator, life saving first aid etc. Then there's a little bit of classroom based stuff in between the physical. Learning about ABD, psychosis, watching videos of k kick offs that have happened in border force ports etc. You'll also be put on a 5 week course as your introduction to border force, which will either revolve around immigration or customs. As you're Dover you'll most likely be on the customs one. That course is a general crash course on customs. Everything from how to conduct seizures to best practice to the laws and legislations behind it (CEMA 1979, PACE etc) along with all the notebooking, post seizure follow up work aswell. It's an intense 5 weeks but again it becomes second nature after a while.

You'll be happy to know there's no bleep tests or minimum amount of press ups required