Customs Officer

Become: Customs Officer

To join at officer grade you will probably need five GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths, plus two A levels or equivalent qualifications. You will normally need two GCSEs (A-C) to join HMRC as an administrative assistant, and five GCSEs (A-C) including maths and English for assistant officer jobs.

About: Customs Officer

If you want to use your detection skills and want to protect the UK, this job could be ideal for you. Customs officers prevent banned items from entering or leaving the country, and collect a range of taxes and duties. You will normally start as an administrative assistant or assistant officer and earn promotion to customs officer or detection officer. To become a customs officer, you will need to have good judgement. You will need to be firm but fair. You will also need to be honest in applying rules.?

As customs officer, also known as a detection officer, you would work in airports and seaports collecting customs duties and preventing smuggling and illegal trade. You might: search luggage, vehicles and travellers check customs documents question people who have been found with illegal items or goods over the allowance arrest and charge people prepare reports and witness statements take on specialist roles such as dog handling or undercover and surveillance work When necessary, you would go to court as a witness and would work closely with other agencies, like the police and the Home Office.

• See more at: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/customsofficer.aspx#sthash.b3PRI1lN.dpuf