Mental health absenteeism in the Border Force rose by 45% as deaths in the Channel increased

The Home Office has spent a six-figure sum on mental health support for Border Patrol officers after mental health-related absenteeism for staff across the agency increased by 45% as the number deaths in the Channel were increasing, a freedom of information request shows.

Border Patrol personnel averaged more than two days off per year for mental health-related reasons between spring 2021 and 2023, the figures show, compared to 1.4 days between spring 2020 and 2021 .

From spring 2020 to spring 2021, 13,005 workdays were lost among the 9,165 Border Patrol employees due to mental health-related absences. Between spring 2022 and spring 2023, the agency’s workforce increased to 15,485. Among them, 31,801 working days were lost due to sick days in the mental health field.

The rise in absentees came as the number of boats crossing the Channel reached record levels and deaths rose sharply. Since 2021, 59 people have died trying to cross.

In November 2021, a rubber boat carrying 30 people sank, killing 27 of those on board, including a five-year-old girl and her teenage siblings. It was the deadliest maritime disaster in the Channel for more than thirty years. Last weekend, five people died trying to board small boats heading from France to Britain.

In the summer of 2023, the Home Office awarded a contract worth £133,000 to the Police Treatment Centres, an external charity that “provides intensive, police-specific physiotherapy and rehabilitation to injured and ill police officers”.

The treatment centers provided facilities to send staff to residential rehabilitation for up to two weeks, including accommodation and food, physiotherapy, psychological assessment and treatment services for frontline officers.

Last year there were almost 30,000 small boat crossings. This followed a record year of crossings in 2022, when almost 46,000 small boats crossed the Channel.

The annual contract does not state whether there is a limit to the number of people who can use the rehabilitation facilities.

The freedom of information data comes after recent criticism of the government from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, David Neal, over its lack of support for the Border Force. Neal pointed out widespread dissatisfaction within the organization in his report to the Home Secretary.

Last year the Guardian revealed that the Home Office was giving border guards mental health workshops on the small boat issue.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which represents government employees, said these workshops were offered after fellow trained officers carried out trauma assessments on staff. The assessment is offered to those involved in potentially traumatic critical incidents.

When an immigration center in Dover was bombed last October, the PCS said all staff involved in the incident were offered the review.

In a letter sent last year to Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft, PCS officials James Cox and Peter Wright wrote that promises to “stop the boats” and make crossing the Channel a “invasion” had an impact on people working in the processing industry. centers.

“These are consequences that potentially endanger our members,” the letter said.

“There have been demonstrations and some violence around hotels where migrants stay. In addition, last year there was the shocking case of the firebombing of the migrant arrival point.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Border Force officers work tirelessly day in, day out to protect our borders and keep the public safe.

“We recognize that being a border guard is a demanding role. That’s why we’ve introduced additional mental health support to ensure our officers are supported when needed.”