UKBA/HMRC and the Black Spot (Statement of Truth) ## UPDATE##

This will be the third time that l know of that our Statement of Truth has been used when shoppers have been stopped by UKBA/HMRC. In all 3 incidents UKBA/HMRC have shied away from the Statement of Truth as though it is the Black Spot.

What do l mean by shied away? UKBA/HMRC officers look at it, 'read' it and then are unsure on what to do. This is new territory for them and now it's their turn to be unprepared. Each time the question arises from them "Why have you done this?"

WHY? ... because we no longer agree to play 'the game' by their bent rules and tactics, that's why! They really, really don't want you doing this because it severely disrupts and negates their tactics. They are used to interrogating you with trick questions and the like so they can get you to contradict yourself. That's all they need to confiscate your goods .... with the help of some 'Skeds' .

The Statement of Truth addresses and answers  their A-J questioning in their interrogation procedure so they now have little to work with. But here is the point, none of these 3 incidents l've mentioned have gone any further than the informal interview interrogation!

There has not been any formal interviews interrogations. None of the notebook farce either where they ask YOU to sign it as an accurate and truthful account of the interrogation (which will then be used against you) and as l've mentioned before, they refuse to give you a copy of it!

We do no such thing with our Statement of Truth, we take 2 copies and the UKBA/HMRC can choose either copy. All we ask of them is to sign to say they've RECEIVED it! Not whether it's contents are true/factual blah blah but just to say they have received it. Guess what? .... they refuse to do it!!! Yep, they want you to sign their notebook which in reality could amount to a 'confession' by you .... but THEY won't even sign a receipt for your Statement of Truth. lf that doesn't open your eyes, nothing will!

So, just take their ID numbers and write them down on your Statement of Truth (both copies), sign and date them and then leave them one. Remember you should be recording all this on audio/video

NEVER sign their notebook saying it is a true and factual account. lf you must sign, sign it without that statement or if they've already written it down for you .... cross it out and then sign.

I realise that it's only 3 incidents but you must remember that this is something new that we've implemented. l'll post all reports of using the Statement of Truth regardless of the outcome. We've done the theory now we are doing the practical. So far, so good. No tobacco/cigarettes have been confiscated.

You take out holiday insurance when you go abroad, the Statement of Truth is a form of insurance for your purchases of tobacco/cigarettes. Whatever the outcome when being stopped by UKBA/HMRC, you're in a far better position by using the Statement of Truth than not using it.

The UKBA and the Black Spot ##Updated##

I travelled to Belgium via P&O Ferries from Hull on the Pride of York. l took my sister and this time went in the car. When we arrived the next day we had a great day in Belgium and then returned to the ferry for the overnight trip back to Hull. Check in was uneventful except for a British car that had 2 occupants. This car was not in line for boarding the ferry but took great interest in all the British cars that were there and would drive down the lines of all the vehicles waiting to embark.You can make up your own minds on that.

Once aboard the ferry we settled in and then went for a meal. They are not cheap but it was good. We got talking to some coach drivers and they told us about previous companies they had worked for. We got round to booze trips and was amazed to find that some coach companies are actively giving the UKBA the names of their own passengers! One coach driver said he was told to give details of any passengers going into the tobacco shops ... and that wasn't a booze cruise! Again, make up your own minds on that.

Arriving in Hull the next day, we disembarked the ferry and we drove through passport control. My sister asked if that was it and we were free to go? l told her no, that just lulls you into a false sense of security and next was the UKBA sheds and l fully expected to be stopped and searched.

Sure enough as we approached the sheds, there was a UKBA officer stood waiting for us. The 2 cars ahead (foreign plates) had simply been waved on. Once into the sheds we were directed to a control point where a female UKBA officer proceeded to go through the usual circus. l popped the boot and got out, taking a folder with me. As she was looking in the boot, l took some papers out of my folder and then got her attention. l then handed her a Statement of Truth ... you'd have thought it was the dreaded 'Black Spot' by the reaction on her face.

The search of my vehicle and luggage stopped there and then before she had really even started. She went off and got another officer who in turn got his senior officer. My Statement of Truth listed previous trips, what l had and what l hadn't brought back, names of or ID numbers of the UKBA officers who'd stopped me on these previous trips, when and where these stops happened. Also listed was the details of this trip, what l'd bought and the why's thereof, my right to do so according to EU and UK laws. What my sister had bought and all the relevant said details.

It also stated that because the UKBA view previous trips as all being trips purchasing tobacco/cigarettes whenever they stop you with such goods that l was collecting and documenting my own history so this could not be used against me at anytime in the future.

The UKBA love to quote "laws" at you and give you official pieces of paper when trying to confiscate your legally bought goods but they aren't so happy at receiving it! They simply did not know how to proceed.  l could see them talking and discussing the Black Spot and then the senior officer went to make phone calls. ln all this time myself and my sister were left alone. My sister took out a crossword book and started on that and l put on my i-pod and listened to music.

Eventually the female officer returned and said l was free to go and handed my Statement of Truth back to me. l took it and along with another copy of it and asked her for her name and ID. She choose not to give me her name but did give me her ID number and took off her hi-viz jacket to reveal the number. The other UKBA officer returned so l got his too and wrote them down on the statements. l then signed and dated both, my sister did the same. l then asked her to choose either copy but seemed afraid of handling the Black Spot so l put it on the table at the control point for her.

l then got in my vehicle, said my goodbyes and left.


Next to come was my trip to Poland. One would think l'd avoid the airport where l had such an ordeal ... Doncaster, Robin Hood Airport. No such thing ... l informed UKBA of my trip to Poland and also informed the Chief Inspector of South Yorks Police of said trip. There was no reply from UKBA but the Chief Inspector said he had informed his officers at the airport of my trip and my continuing issues with UKBA.

Before l went on my trip to Poland another Black Spot had to be produced to take with me.

Hey ho, m'earties!

##UPDATE##

Tomorrow l should get the review to my complaint. Am l expecting satisfaction? .... No. What l expect is a load of  waffle and 'not in the public interest' non disclosure statements despite having them bang to rights both legally and morally. I await to see if l'm proven wrong.