l've had a number of requests for help over the weekend and all have involved Dover. Out of 3 of the cases 2 vehicles have been seized along with tobacco amounts that are not in anyway excessive. They all answered the questions correctly, did not contradict each other, had never been stopped before and in effect could not in any way be construed as commercial. The 3rd case involved losing the tobacco but kept the vehicle.
ln one of the cases, the seizure was announced before the A-J's were conducted! l can't say much more about them at the moment other than that they were all in my honest opinion nothing more than the policy of disruption. lntegrity and honesty were not in attendance.
Unfortunately none of the victims recorded the interview and all signed the notebook ... even one who could not read or write! We shall do our best though.
A fourth case happened a month or so go and here we have a Review Officer that is of the same calibre of our very own Ian Sked. ln fact he could well take the crown off our Sked ! We shall bring you the results of all these when we get them.
On a positive note we've had one incident at an airport where the UKBA were told they were being recorded and once again they behaved correctly and no goods were seized. l'm trying to convince the person involved to let us have the video. Fingers crossed. lf we don't get it we still have ours to come very shortly.
So people, let's be careful out there. Record everything and do not sign the notebook ... ever!
Stay Safe now!
Oh l forgot ... our Xmas Baccy Cruise is just a week away! There are still some places left!
ln one of the cases, the seizure was announced before the A-J's were conducted! l can't say much more about them at the moment other than that they were all in my honest opinion nothing more than the policy of disruption. lntegrity and honesty were not in attendance.
Unfortunately none of the victims recorded the interview and all signed the notebook ... even one who could not read or write! We shall do our best though.
A fourth case happened a month or so go and here we have a Review Officer that is of the same calibre of our very own Ian Sked. ln fact he could well take the crown off our Sked ! We shall bring you the results of all these when we get them.
On a positive note we've had one incident at an airport where the UKBA were told they were being recorded and once again they behaved correctly and no goods were seized. l'm trying to convince the person involved to let us have the video. Fingers crossed. lf we don't get it we still have ours to come very shortly.
So people, let's be careful out there. Record everything and do not sign the notebook ... ever!
Stay Safe now!
Oh l forgot ... our Xmas Baccy Cruise is just a week away! There are still some places left!
Would it be true to say that had the notebook not been signed, and the 'interview' had been recorded - this would never have happened because the drones would never have dared behave in this way?
ReplyDeleteOur experience and others certainly shows this. lt removes the power they had to intimidate and stops your signing of their notebook being interpreted as a confession.
ReplyDeleteYou might also wish to contact Forest and raise a complaint as they are a strong voice speaking for smokers' rights and will be justly outraged.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite conceivable that someone(s) inside UKBA had those particular models and years of vehicle on their "most wanted" list, "most wanted" for their own personal ownership or that of their families after they sell it off to themselves for pennies on the dollar in a secret no-bid auction a few months out.
Of course the "liberal" press won't get involved to ask if any civil liberties are being violated.
And best not to expect mainstream society to give a sh*te when it's "the evil smokers" being flogged and whipped for doing perfectly legal and moral practices, exercising their own freedom to purchase for personal use which the highly oh-so-respected (for all other purposes by government officials) EU says is perfectly fine to be doing.
Such is the sad state of things these days in most parts of the "civilized" and "free" world.
You mentioned the word 'video'. I know I can record the sound, but can I video it?
ReplyDeleteYes Tim, you can video it. Their procedures specifically state so and l quote :-
ReplyDelete"Note: Officers cannot stop someone if they choose to make a video or audio recording of the interview themselves using their own equipment such as a mobile phone, video camera etc."
"You might also wish to contact Forest and raise a complaint as they are a strong voice speaking for smokers' rights and will be justly outraged."
ReplyDeleteYou jest, surely? I missed the '/sarcasm' flag, I'm sure...
"strong voice"?!...a polite deferential murmur maybe..
Yes, it was sarcasm. I should have used the '' to make it more clear. I just thought it was SO obvious that '' wasn't needed.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr Hot
ReplyDeleteApart from the fact that the employees of the UKBA are acting illegally under our constitution, they are also acting 'illegally' under EU regulations - which as any fule kno - takes precedence over our own laws - at least officially. What UKBA are saying by their actions is that EU law does not apply either.
So if UKBA will prove in a court of law that EU regulations no longer apply in the UK I will happily pay whatever UK duty is required, in full, when the UKBA takes us completely out of the EU - as they must do if they are not to be acting against EU law.
Perhaps all cross channel shoppers should encourage the UKBA to make such a statement to camera and to promise to do so in a court of law. Perhaps shoppers can make their own notes in a notebook and require their public servants to sign it, including the statement that the UK is no longer bound by any EU regulations.
When that happens, I'll say 'well done UKBA!’ and drink to that. I’ll even have a cigar. Havana of course.
One can dream ...
DP
Its really surprising that UKBA is encouraged by the cross channel shoppers to make sure that the they keep the promise to the court of law. promy anglia made the travelers that UKBA are no longer bound for any Eu regulations.
ReplyDeleteFerries to France ... l'm sorry, maybe it's because l had a late night but l can make on sense of the last bit of your post at all.
ReplyDeletel sort of get the first bit
Maybe my readers will help :)