Complaints procedure
Find out how to complain about Border Force and how we deal with complaints.
A complaint is any expression of dissatisfaction that needs a response, about:
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the standard of service received from Border Force
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the professional conduct of Border Force staff or contractors
Before you make a complaint
Common issues
Border security is our top priority. When flights are delayed or multiple flights arrive in a short space of time, it can take longer for passengers to go through our border security checks.
ePassport gates may be temporarily closed for a number of reasons:
- it is more efficient for passengers to be checked by officers during quieter times
- a gate may need an IT or system update
- officers need to carry out manual checks for a large group of passengers who cannot use eGates
Children under 10 are not eligible to use ePassport gates.
Why you were stopped
We are unable to comment on specific reasons for additional checks on travellers at the border. To request personal data held in the immigration and borders system, you will need to make a subject access request.
Read more about how we look after your personal information.
We have a safeguarding duty and may need to ask you a few questions if you are travelling with a child under 18 and you are not the child’s parent or may not appear to be the parent (for example, you have a different family name).
Who stopped you
Border Force officers wear a dark blue uniform and usually have epaulettes on their shoulders.
If the officer was not wearing this uniform, contact the relevant organisation, such as the port or airport customer services department, directly.
Other departments
To avoid delays, make sure you contact the right department.
We cannot help you with issues not related to Border Force, or with any of the following:
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the refusal of permission to enter the UK – please refer to your paperwork as this sets out how to appeal or seek an administrative review
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customs queries – see Travelling to the UK
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immigration queries – see Entering the UK
Complaints about other areas of the Home Office
Other areas of the Home Office have their own complaints procedures:
Requests for information
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personal information: make a subject access request to see your own information or on someone else’s behalf
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freedom of information requests: obtain other government data and statistics by contacting the Home Office
Make a complaint
You should submit your complaint no later than 3 months after the incident has happened unless there are exceptional circumstances.
What to tell us
Give as much information about yourself as you can to help us investigate your complaint:
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your full name, telephone number, email and postal address
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full details of what your complaint is about, including times, dates and locations, flight number (if applicable), airport and terminal
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the names or identifying numbers of the Border Force officers or a full description of each officer
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your passport number and date of birth, or a copy of the biometric data page of your passport
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a copy of the page in your passport stamped by the officer concerned, if applicable
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copies of any relevant letters, paperwork or references
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evidence of any damage caused, for example photographs, and any quotes, invoices and receipts to support your claim
Make a complaint for someone else
To disclose information about another person, we need written authorisation.
Ask the person who wants to complain to complete our
and make sure it includes their handwritten signature before completing the rest of the steps for making a complaint.Where to send your complaints
We only accept written complaints in English or Welsh.
Email your complaint to [email protected].
Alternatively, you can fill in the
and send it to:
Complaints Allocation Hub
Central point of receipt
7th Floor
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY
What happens next
You will get a response saying we have received your complaint. We may also contact you during an investigation for more information.
Complaints are managed by our Correspondence team. They will make sure that your complaint is resolved in a satisfactory and timely manner.
For more information about how we deal with complaints, see our complaints management guidance.
How long it will take
You will receive a response within 20 working days if it meets the criteria of a complaint that needs a response.
Serious complaints
If you make a serious complaint, for example about professional misconduct, we may refer the case to the Home Office’s Professional Standards Unit.
You should receive a response from their investigators within 12 weeks.
If you are not satisfied with the response
You can ask us to review the complaint. We will need detailed information explaining what you are not satisfied with. A member of staff can then carry out an independent review of your complaint.
You should get a response within 20 working days of the date when you asked for a review.
If you are still not happy at this stage, you can make a complaint to the Independent Examiner of Complaints, who may be able to help you.