Editing HM Customs and Excise (section)

==Border enforcement==
{{see also|HM Customs#Border enforcement}}
[[File:A Cutter chasing RMG PU6060.tiff|thumb|A Revenue Cutter pursuing a suspect vessel, 1803]]
For centuries, combatting smuggling had been part of the job of revenue officers. In the late 17th century, a concerted effort was made to combat this growing problem; land-based [[Riding Officer]]s were employed to patrol the coast on horseback, while [[Revenue cutters]] were provided to enable officers to intercept vessels involved in smuggling at sea.<ref name="HistSmuggling">{{cite web|title=History of Smuggling|url=https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/archive/info-sheet.aspx?sheetId=30|website=Border Force National Museum|publisher=Liverpool Museums: Maritime Archives and Library|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

===The Waterguard===
{{main|Waterguard}}
In 1809 an organisation called the Preventive Water Guard was formed, independent of HM Customs, as a specialist service to combat smuggling. In 1822 it was brought together with the Riding Officers and Cutter service to form a new body (under the authority of HM Customs) named the [[HM Coast Guard|Coast Guard]]. In 1856, however, authority over the Coast Guard was transferred from the Customs to the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]].

In 1891 a specialist [[Waterguard]] service was re-established within HM Customs, dedicated to rummaging vessels and combatting smuggling.<ref name="HistRummage">{{cite web|title=History of Rummage|url=https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/archive/info-sheet.aspx?sheetId=76|website=Border Force National Museum|publisher=Liverpool Museums: Maritime Archives and Library|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

===The Cutter Service===
{{see also|List of customs cutters of UK Border Force}}
[[File:HMRC Vigilant BB.jpg|thumb|right|220px|HM Revenue Cutter ''Vigilant'', launched in 2003; the twelfth customs vessel to bear the name.]]
Following the transfer of the [[His Majesty's Coastguard|Coastguard]] to the Admiralty, HM Customs had found itself bereft of sea-going vessels. For the first part of the twentieth century, HMCE made do with a single revenue cruiser, the ''Vigilant'' (which served more as a flagship for the Commissioners than as a practical deterrent). After the Second World War, however, the need for active vessels was again recognised and suitable craft were purchased from the Admiralty. By 1962 HMCE had four fast launches in service, crewed by officers of the Waterguard (many of whom had seen active service in the Royal Navy); by 1980 eight further vessels had been acquired.

In the 21st century, a fleet of Customs [[Cutter (ship)|Cutters]] (latterly 42&nbsp;metre [[Damen Group|Damen]] patrol vessels) continued to operate throughout UK territorial waters inspecting vessels for Prohibited and restricted goods and increasingly immigration matters

===After the 2005 merger===
In 2005, the border enforcement functions of HMCE were transferred (along with the organisation responsible for them) to HMRC; but in 2008 they were again transferred (at least in part) to the new [[UK Border Agency]] of the Home Office,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2008/ukborderagencylaunch |title=Launch of Britain's new unified Border Agency |publisher=[[UK Border Agency]] |date=2008-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907063015/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2008/ukborderagencylaunch |archive-date=7 September 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> which due to various failings was itself disbanded in 2012, whereupon a new [[UK Border Force]] was established with border enforcement responsibilities and powers.