Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Following an outcry from Sinn Fein that a recruitment campaign for Border Force officers was discriminatory because of a requirement for applicants to hold a British passport the Home Office last week withdrew the campaign. Now applicants simply have to have a passport.
“However, the Government has replaced one form of alleged discrimination with another form of discrimination. On the website inviting applications there are two sets of criteria. The criteria for England, Scotland and Wales reads:
In order to be eligible to apply for a Border Force Officer role, you must either hold two A Levels at Grade E or above or have relevant experience.
If you do not hold a minimum of 2 A Levels or above, you must meet ONE of the following essential criteria:
- Served as a fully attested Police Officer/ Special Constable;
- Served in the British Armed Forces;
- Served as a Border Force Officer for two years.
(See here).
“The Northern Ireland criteria reads:
In order to be eligible to apply for a Border Force Officer role, you must either hold two A Levels at Grade E or above or have relevant experience.
Experience Criteria
If you do not hold a minimum of 2 A Levels or above, you must have served as a Border Force Officer for two years.
(See here).
“I have written to the Home Office demanding to know why experience in the police or British Armed Forces would qualify someone for a post in Great Britain but not in Northern Ireland. This follows contact with a gentleman whose son was in the process of applying under the initial campaign as he had 10 years experience in the Royal Navy but is precluded from applying under the revised criteria.
“The present criteria is totally unacceptable. The Home Secretary need to change the criteria so that, as is the case in Great Britain, service in the police or British Armed Forces be included for applicants in Northern Ireland. It is totally scandalous that this even needs to be raised with HM Government, particularly given the remarkable work the security forces did in this part of the United Kingdom in dealing with 30 years of terrorism. It is a gross insult to all who served in HM’s Forces both here and across the globe that they should be treated in this fashion.”