This from the owner of Daytripper who does not smoke and never buys tobacco or cigarettes.
"6th Oct 2011 - UKBA hard at it again monitoring UK citizens (9/14 times now!)
Oh dear, stopped again! As usual, the UKBA Officer looked down at his list and this law abiding UK citizens is stopped again. "Congratulations" I say, "this is 9 out of 14 times I have been stopped, why is my name on a list of people to be monitored?"
The UKBA official responded that it was not a stop, he was just having a chat. Amazing - HE STOOD IN FRONT OF MY CAR WITH HIS HAND UP.
I am asked where I have been, what for and how long. I reply I am a journalist working, but why should I have to do this 2/3's of the time I travel?
This is in itself worrying as they know exactly when I left and returned. Why then the need to question me?
He then asked me why it was a problem, so I said "I am British not an East German, there is no need to monitor my movements". His response? "I have the power to take you into the sheds". This is the standard intimidation they employ. I would prefer to argue my case, but I'm British and being monitored by the misnamed UKBA ("Energetically using the UKBorder as the point at which UK citizens are controlled) is scary enough.
So, you don't need to be a criminal, engaged in criminal activity or have done anything wrong, these bullies have the power to scare you should you question why you have been stopped.
I replied " I know what that means" and drove off.
It is worth reminding people that had I not stopped, the cats claws (an immobilisng device) woud have come up and I would be prosecuted for ... not stopping.
People should also know that I do not smoke, do not buy and have never bought tobacco of any kind. And so what is it I did that excites the UKBA? How can it be criminal to shop where it is cheapest. My only "crime" is either crossing my own countries borders, or as I increasingly suspect, because they have more in common with Banana Republic officialdom that professional Civil Servants (being civil and serving the taxpayer), and like to use and abuse their powers to intimidate and control perfectly law abiding citizens who question their behaviour
Interestingly, despite a very high volume of lorries this evening, the lorry sheds were empty. Stopping drugs, counterfeit goods and looking for explosives? No, it's shoppers they clearly exist to control."
WARNING! Do NOT post ANY questions/requests on this blog regarding ANY issues with Border Force (Customs) We now have a FORUM for this where members will gladly help you. GO TO www.n2d.me/bbs
Showing posts with label harassment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harassment. Show all posts
How dare you use free trade in the EU to buy your tobacco?
Here is the strategy announced yesterday. There is little doubt that the cross-border shopper is a main target yet here's a thing ... the Russians don't seem to be mentioned despite Jin Ling cigarettes being made there. The Chinese are mentioned though.
The intention is to stop export of UK brands to the EU and also frighten the UK shopper from going to the EU to legally purchase their cigarettes for personal use. They really do believe that if they achieve this that the UK smoker will purchase his cigarettes/tobacco from UK retailers. Here's just a few examples of the scare tactics
4.31 We will reduce the minimum indicativelevels to 800 cigarettes and 1 kg hand-rolling tobacco in the autumn. These levels are used as a guide for determining whether tobacco products imported from the EU are for personal use. This will deter travellers who seek to abuse cross border shopping rules from purchasing large quantities of non-UK duty paid tobacco for illicit re-sale in the UK.
Will it? will it really? The laws have not changed regarding personal imports of EU duty paid cigarettes/tobacco. You can still bring back as much as you like .... period! You'll notice that there is no mention of the legitimate shopper at all in this strategy. ln fact the wording gives the impression that anyone purchasing over these 'limits' must be a smuggler! IT IS ALL JUST HUFF AND PUFF!
4.19 These include changes in EU and UK law to allow us to also assess those who hold or supply illicit tobacco for unpaid duty and levy penalties up to 100% of the value of tax evaded. For example, somebody caught smuggling 20,000 premium UK branded cigarettes costing around £4,000to purchase on the near-continent could now face the loss of that product, a tax bill of roughly £4,250 and a further penalty of up to £4,250 –a financial cost to the smuggler of around £12,500. These multiple sanctions can be applied against anyone caught in possession oftobacco on which duty hasn’t been paid.
Oh scary ... except for a couple of points. Smuggling is a criminal offence and as such there has to be evidence and a conviction which involves PACE and not Civil proceedings. The duty HAS been paid, it is paid in the EU country where the goods are bought. You will note the use of the words 'could' and 'can be' .... not 'will' and 'will be'. MORE HUFF AND PUFF!
Travel restrictions on repeat smugglers
See above
There is more l'd like to highlight from the strategy but l have no time at the moment but l will come back to it. Read it yourself and see what you think and leave comments or questions and l'll address them when l get back.
The intention is to stop export of UK brands to the EU and also frighten the UK shopper from going to the EU to legally purchase their cigarettes for personal use. They really do believe that if they achieve this that the UK smoker will purchase his cigarettes/tobacco from UK retailers. Here's just a few examples of the scare tactics
4.31 We will reduce the minimum indicativelevels to 800 cigarettes and 1 kg hand-rolling tobacco in the autumn. These levels are used as a guide for determining whether tobacco products imported from the EU are for personal use. This will deter travellers who seek to abuse cross border shopping rules from purchasing large quantities of non-UK duty paid tobacco for illicit re-sale in the UK.
Will it? will it really? The laws have not changed regarding personal imports of EU duty paid cigarettes/tobacco. You can still bring back as much as you like .... period! You'll notice that there is no mention of the legitimate shopper at all in this strategy. ln fact the wording gives the impression that anyone purchasing over these 'limits' must be a smuggler! IT IS ALL JUST HUFF AND PUFF!
4.19 These include changes in EU and UK law to allow us to also assess those who hold or supply illicit tobacco for unpaid duty and levy penalties up to 100% of the value of tax evaded. For example, somebody caught smuggling 20,000 premium UK branded cigarettes costing around £4,000to purchase on the near-continent could now face the loss of that product, a tax bill of roughly £4,250 and a further penalty of up to £4,250 –a financial cost to the smuggler of around £12,500. These multiple sanctions can be applied against anyone caught in possession oftobacco on which duty hasn’t been paid.
Oh scary ... except for a couple of points. Smuggling is a criminal offence and as such there has to be evidence and a conviction which involves PACE and not Civil proceedings. The duty HAS been paid, it is paid in the EU country where the goods are bought. You will note the use of the words 'could' and 'can be' .... not 'will' and 'will be'. MORE HUFF AND PUFF!
Travel restrictions on repeat smugglers
See above
There is more l'd like to highlight from the strategy but l have no time at the moment but l will come back to it. Read it yourself and see what you think and leave comments or questions and l'll address them when l get back.
Once more into the breach, dear friend .... once more.
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| Doncaster Airport Customs Control |
l prepared another Statement of Truth that gave all the details of my trip and previous ones ... which now included the stop and search at Hull.. lt included a statement that l could not consent to being interviewed by either of the UKBA officers who were involved in my ordeal of the 10th Dec 2010 at Doncaster Airport. Neither would l consent to any of their colleagues interviewing me as l deemed such an action a conflict of interest and unethical due to these officers still being under investigation.l would consent to being interviewed by South Yorks Police though if UKBA wanted to proceed with such an action.
We arrived back at Doncaster Airport at approx 20.30. lt was the last flight in that day. lt's only a small airport and my flight was only the 5th that day. The next would be just after midnight at 00.35. Disembarking the aircraft, we made our way to Passport Control ... the very same one that l never got by on 10th Dec.
Well what a surprise, all 3 Passport Control desks were manned ... it's usually just one. Sat there at 2 of the desks were the very 2 UKBA officers that l'd put a complaint in about. Strangely they had on hi-viz jackets that hid their ID numbers ... the 3rd UKBA officer was in normal uniform.Behind the Passport Control was a policeman and way to the side at another desk was 2 'suits' who l surmised to be UKBA. There was no doubt we were recognised ... how could they forget? We passed through Passport Control and made our way to baggage reclaim.
Whilst waiting for our luggage l noticed the 3 UKBA uniformed officers and 2 suits come from Passport Control after finishing processing the last of the passengers. They all disappeared through a staff only door, the policeman stayed in the baggage reclaim area. Eventually our luggage turned up, we were amongst the last to get our luggage. We then proceeded to the exit and Customs control.
There was no-one there! ... it was not manned!
We waited at the exit until airport security closed the exit with the powered shutter after the last of the passengers had left.
Make of it what you will. Us? ... time to book another trip somewhere ... from Doncaster Airport! :)
Oh, and today was the day l was supposed to get a reply from the vice director of UKBA Complaints, Dover ... l got nothing!
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