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UK Border Force: Staff

Asked by Dr Al PinkertonLiberal DemocratHome OfficeTabled Answered 14 July 2026UIN 16764

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the full-time equivalent staffing headcount of Border Force was at (a) the Port of Dover, (b) Eurotunnel Folkestone and (c) Eurostar St Pancras International in each year since 2024.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Border Force operates a flexible resourcing model, regularly assessing operational needs and deploying staff dynamically in response to passenger volumes and security requirements. Maintaining the security and efficiency of the UK border remains a top priority, and we continue to allocate resources accordingly to ensure the smooth flow of passengers and goods.

For security reasons, Border Force do not give out figures of how many operational staff are working at a given time or on a specific operational deployment, nor does Border Force publish information on operational activities. Doing so would publicise operational practices which could be used to assist in the evasion of customs controls and compromise Border security.

Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority. We have robust plans in place to minimise any delays, and will deploy suitable resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.

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