How to Record UKBA/HMRC Interviews/Stop and Search

Firstly, when you are stopped by UKBA/HMRC you MUST immediately tell them that you are recording them. They CANNOT stop you as it is in their own procedures that they HAVE to follow. Make sure that you take a copy of SBC's FOI with you in case they try to refuse being recorded by bluffing or lying to you. The relevant paragraph is on page 8 under Excise and Civil Interviews where it categorically states:-

"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."


The reason we tell you to inform the UKBA/HMRC immediately that you are recording the incident when you are stopped by them is NOT you that are required to do so by law (you can do it covertly too), it is to make them behave!


Once they know they are being recorded, they will not use their usual tactics of bullying, intimidation, lying etc etc etc. The act of recording them has the same result on  them as Kryptonite does to Superman ... they lose their 'powers' and have to do everything by the book!


As for equipment to use, SBC rightly says that we recommend the above Sony Recorder BUT this is not the only device we use at the time. The Sony is for back-up because it can record for hours and hours with no problem. The other devices we use such as spy cameras, i-phone etc all have a major disadvantage ... if the interview goes on for a long time (Zaphod 4+ hours), the spy cameras, i-phones etc will run out of battery ... the Sony will NOT.We did a test and it ran for over 12 hours and it still had battery life left.


lt's no use recording something so important only to find you missed half of the interview interrogation because the battery ran out!


We still use the spy cameras, i-phone etc but the Sony is the 'belt and braces'. Also remember that your mobile phone has recording capabilities too even if it is not an i-phone. Get to know your mobile phone's capabilities, many of them can do more than the i-phone l use.For spy cameras go to ebay and as SBC said just do a search for spy cameras.


SPREAD the word people and let's all MAKE the UKBA/HMRC  BEHAVE!


Us Cross-Border Shoppers are no longer defenceless against the illegal and unjust tactics used by UKBA/HMRC. We can take away these tactics that UKBA/HMRC have used for years to rob people of their goods and vehicles. This recording of them is a game breaker ... USE IT & TELL OTHERS about it. 


Let's show them that they are ACCOUNTABLE to us, the public! Let's FORCE them to abide by the LAW ... as they should have been doing for years!


SPREAD THE WORD!


Stay Safe 

6 comments:

  1. This post needs to be stickied in the title bar. And good point about battery life, I tend to have a back up spy cam with a full battery ready to rock and my cell phone also.

    Probably a good idea, if one uses a cell phone, to only use the 'dictaphone' function ie the Audio Record and not the Video as the taking videos eats battery whereas the Audio record doesn't and it also produces nice small easily uploadable files. Video-even the horrible crappy 3GP format is HUGE, and AVI even more so, and takes weeks to upload on a 'normal' broadband connection and would cost more than the seized tobacco to upload via a 3G connection!

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  2. Just checked the stats on the FOI download: 357!

    *thinks about buying Sony stock*

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  3. There's a good audio recording of last weekend's stunt. It needs editing to remove long gaps, and names etc. There is also some amusing video footage, (depite battery problems). Watch this space... :-)

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  4. Zaphod, I look forward to it....

    ....which is probably rather sad...I know.

    But the first 'negative' video of a UKBA Offizier is going to be an internet 'best seller'-judging by the response to the original audio recordings.

    We live in an age where high speed broadband's sole purpose is to bring the masses 'funneh' vids of cats.

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  5. Hurry Hurry Hurry
    Excellent Swan pen cams reduced by £50 in Maplin now only £29:99 4 gig memory and 12 months guarantee but the one I bought today had instruction bo0ok in Spanish. Who needs instructions? only one button and a mini CD with English manual on board
    Plus they are a smart looking pen as well and well boxed for Christmas gifts

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  6. What the Dreaded SKED said.
    If I an ex soldier was to record or video a UKBA officer telling lies, then I would be breaching the UK anti Terror laws.
    Thank you Mr Adolf SKED

    "the absurdity of this reason is demonstrated by simply stating it"

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"In the eyes of the Tribunal the review letter contained several preconceptions, prejudgments and non-sequiturs"

"the absurdity of this reason is demonstrated by simply stating it"

"We therefore find that Mr Sked misdirected himself as to the Policy in carrying out the review and his decision is therefore one that no reasonable review officer could have arrived at."

... commonly known here at N2D as 'Skeds' ... that is to say these are Judges comments regarding UKBA Review Officer Ian Sked's reasons for rejecting peoples appeals against seizures.

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