Border Policing Command

Police Scotland recognises that the aviation and maritime sectors are a critical part of the national infrastructure and present a unique set of policing challenges.

The Strategic Border Management Group coordinate the work of Border Policing Command (BPC) aligned with force priorities, placing particular emphasis on:

Protecting the public
Tackling serious organised crime and terrorism
Effectively policing major events and threats
Maintaining high levels of public confidence in policing
Delivering our equality and diversity outcomes

Our role

Border Policing Command is committed to keeping people safe at Scotland’s airports, ferry and seaports.

This is done by countering the threat from international and domestic terrorism. They also counter the exploitation of borders and ports from serious and organised crime.

Counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST)

Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Strategy

Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Partnership working

We work closely with our partners in other key border enforcement agencies. This includes Border Force, HMRC, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, local divisional officers and the local communities throughout Scotland, who all have a role in securing the border.

BPC are located at all major Scottish international airports; ferry and sea ports including the major ferry port at Loch Ryan.

In addition to staffing, the major ports a dedicated team of BPC officers known as Small Ports officers regularly visit all of Scotland's maritime ports, smaller airports and private airfields.

They maintain good working relations with the Maritime and General Aviation communities – Small Ports.