The Guernsey Border Agency intends to deliver the best quality service to the people of the Bailiwick of Guernsey by carrying out law enforcement, social, fiscal and economic responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner and to foster public co-operation.

Quick links

Click on the links to access information on the following:

• Importing motor vehicles
• Additional Duties - USA
• Changes to Excise Duty Charges on Fuels
• Declaring cash
• General Aviation
• Duty Free Allowances
• VAT Refunds
• Seen something suspicious? Call the GBA Drugline
• Working in Guernsey
• Mail detained by GBA

The overall aims of the Agency are to:

• Gear resources to risk, improve service quality to maintain and further develop professionalism;

• Give staff the tools, skills and support they need to do a challenging job;

• Work closely in partnership with other statutory departments/services, non-statutory organisations and law enforcement agencies on a local, national and international scale;

• Work within the framework of the corporate agenda and policy as published annually by the States of Guernsey;

• Maintain the existing excellent levels of staff retention and ability to recruit quality staff when the need arises;

A Brief History

During the 1700’s and up until the middle of the 19th Century, Guernsey was a “duty free” Island and large quantities of wine and spirits were smuggled from the Island into the United Kingdom.

Between 1709 and 1722 four attempts were made to introduce English Customs Officers into the Island but the Guernsey Parliament withheld their consent.

In 1767 the English sent a 14 gun schooner and a cutter with some 40 men to Guernsey, with the power to search vessels in the bays, creeks and roads around Guernsey. The Islanders objected to this and in 1806 the Lieutenant Governor issued a proclamation offering a reward of 50 guineas for information leading to the capture of an “evil minded” person who had bored several holes in the bottom of one of the boats belonging to the Queen.

In 1833 the English Government introduced the “Hovering Act” which enabled English Customs Cutters to search any suspect vessel within a hundred leagues of the English coast. This enabled Customs cutter to stand off the coast of Guernsey and wait for the smuggling vessels to leave St Peter Port!

Modern day Departmental records disappeared during World War II but the origins of Guernsey Customs can be found in 1858 when a law was passed enabling a duty on imported goods to be collected in order to help pay for improvements to St Peter Port Harbour.

In 1932 the Import Duties Act introduced a duty on goods imported from foreign countries, which still exists today, in the form of the Common Customs Tariff. The Customs and Excise Department continued to develop and the first drug seizures were made by Customs Officers in the early 1970’s.

In 1975 Customs amalgamated with Immigration and Nationality to make one Department.

In the 1980’s the Department made two significant seizures of Cannabis Resin, 1500 kg and 500 kg respectively, from yachts “transiting” through Guernsey.

Customs continued to increase its efforts against drug smuggling and in 1991 set up a team of specialist Investigation Officers to target major drug importers.

Necessary Customs resource has also been allocated to the fight against international drug trafficking, money laundering and financial crime.

Drug seizures, particularly of Class A drugs such as Heroin, Cocaine and Ecstasy, have continued to rise and the number of successes in dismantling smuggling syndicates has grown, culminating in the seizure of drugs with a street value in excess of £1 million in 2001 and 2002.

Immigration Officers are increasingly involved in the fight against “people trafficking”, which is a growing trend.

Guernsey Border Agency

On 27th April 2010, the Customs and Excise, Immigration and Nationality Service became known as the Guernsey Border Agency (which is established on a shadow basis until it is constituted in law).

The GBA is split into 4 Divisions:

Cross Border Crime

• Proactive investigation of cross border crime
• Frontier protection
• Financial Investigation Unit
• Joint intelligence work with the Police

Customs & Excise

• Collection and protection of revenue
• Freight border control
• Provision of trade information and advice

Immigration & Nationality

• Immigration crime
• Immigration border controls
• Issuance of British passports

Corporate Services

• Dedicated corporate support
• Facilities management
• Research and strategy

The GBA brings together the various work previously carried out by the Customs and Excise, Immigration and Nationality Service with additional responsibilities for assigned cross border crime such as drug trafficking, immigration crime and financial and economic crime.. The GBA policy agenda will be shaped by the States of Guernsey through the Home Department and Law Enforcement Commission.

The GBA will feed into wider cross‐governmental and law enforcement objectives involving border, and where appropriate, internal enforcement, including fraud and revenue protection on behalf of the Treasury and Resources Department.

The GBA also has responsibility for the operation of the Bailiwick’s passport office on behalf of his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, who exercises the Royal prerogative on behalf of the Sovereign.

The GBA will seek to enhance effectiveness across Bailiwick law enforcement through the provision of specialist assistance with the establishment of ‘Specialist Operational Support (SOS)’ Groups which will deliver to partner organisations such as the Police. The provision of the  SOS for the delivery of specialist functions will minimise duplication of effort between law enforcement organisations and will provide an opportunity for rationalisation of services, synergy savings and mobilise Bailiwick efforts against organised crime.

Please click the link on the right to view the GBA Shadow Status fact sheet.