Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Sammy Gecsoyler

Border Force mental health absences rose 45% as Channel deaths increased

A group of people being brought into Dover on a Border Force vessel on Saturday.
A group of people being brought into Dover on a Border Force vessel on Saturday. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

The Home Office spent a six-figure sum on mental health support for frontline Border Force officers after mental health-related absences for staff across the agency increased by 45% as deaths in the Channel rose, a freedom of information request has revealed.

Border Force staff were off on average for more than two days a year for reasons related to mental health between the springs of 2021 and 2023, the figures show, up from 1.4 days between spring 2020 and 2021.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.