By JOHN ASKILL
and JOHN COLES
BULLYING Customs officers who grab booze cruisers’ cheap
alcohol and tobacco are facing a court showdown.
A tough-talking European Commissioner is vowing action after
Chancellor Gordon Brown failed to tell him why British trippers
are being deprived of their legal rights.
And The Sun today launches a major campaign to get the
Customs bullies off our readers’ backs.
We went into action 24 hours after a granny was thrown off a
pensioners’ coach and left sobbing by the roadside after her
sherry and cigarettes were seized.
The Sun told yesterday how Pam Ellis, 63, was stran- ded 200
miles from her Nottingham home when Dover officials pounced
following a day-trip to Calais.
Threat ... Bolkestein wrote
to the Chancellor
Our campaign comes as thousands of Brits prepare to cross the
Channel for bargain Christmas drink.
The High Court ruled in August that Dover Customs had
exceeded their powers with random searches to trap cig and booze
“smugglers”.
Yet the searches have continued — even though current rules
state that the millions of Brits who go on booze cruises every
year CAN import as much as they like for their own use.
Folk who breach unofficial “guidelines” of 800 cigs, 90
litres of wine and 110 litres of beer may have their goods and
car confiscated.
Protesters claim up to 20,000 vehicles have been impounded as
“punishment” since 2000.
Dozens of passengers have been stranded at Dover after being
hauled off day-trip coaches.
Critics say the tough stance is a bid to stop Britons
shopping abroad and swell Mr Brown’s coffers by ensuring
people pay duty at home.
EU internal market commissioner Frits Bolkestein wrote to the
Chancellor on September 18, asking him to explain the searches
and penalties. He has so far had no response.
Now the Dutchman is threatening to prosecute the Government
for breaking EU rules.
He said: “British consumers are getting a raw deal. The
European Commission takes a dim view of the British
Government’s policy.”
Snub ... Mr Brown has not
replied to Bolkestein letter
Mr Bolkestein added: “While they understandably want to
stop smuggling, people have a right to travel across borders
with purchases of alcohol and cigarettes for personal use.
“As the High Court has said, the burden of proof should be
on Customs and Excise that such purchases are not for personal
use.
“Cross-border shopping within the internal market is a
fundamental right. It should not be regarded as tax evasion,
even if it gives rise to revenue losses to the UK exchequer.”
End this customs outrage
Still at it ... customs officer with
sniffer dog
prepares to search the boot of traveller's car
By TIM SPANTON
and NIC CECIL
THE Sun today calls on its army of ten million readers to
take on the Customs bullies picking on booze cruise trippers.
We are mounting a campaign to stop the arrogant officials
defying a High Court ruling that outlawed random searches at
ports.
Customs officers make life hell for people stocking up on
alcohol and cigarettes that they can buy more cheaply in other
European Union countries.
Adults making the cross-Channel shopping journeys are legally
entitled to bring back as much as they like — as long as it is
for their own use.
That includes presents for family and friends. But Customs
chiefs reckoned they knew better and set their own limits.
The Treasury feared losing excise duty because people were
shopping abroad to save cash.
So Customs officials started confiscating items bought in
bulk, claiming they were destined for the black market.
Frequently, cars, vans and trucks carrying the goods are also
confiscated — an amazing TEN THOUSAND last year alone.
The vehicles are scrapped or auctioned — with ALL
proceeds going into government coffers.
The High Court decided in August the scandalous random
searches were illegal. And it stated that trippers did NOT
have to prove that goods brought from the Continent were for
themselves only.
The action was brought by ferry operator Hoverspeed which was
sick of customers being intimidated and falsely accused of
smuggling.
But the know-all jobsworths IGNORED the ruling and
will challenge it in the Appeal Court on November 5.
If they lose, they could be sued for compensation running
into millions of pounds.
It would also be a huge bonus for passengers pouring on to
ferries for pre-Christmas booze cruises.
Customs began their current “zero tolerance” campaign two
years ago after being ordered to get tough on shoppers.
They claim that the Exchequer loses £4billion a year though
cigarette and alcohol smuggling.
Chiefs boast they cut illegal importing by 76 per cent.
A spokesman said: “We want to stop smugglers ripping us all
off by evading taxes which the rest of us pay to fund schools
and hospitals and other vital public services.”
Customs have always had the right to target real smugglers.
But The Sun’s Hands Off Our Booze Cruises crusade is aimed
at protecting ORDINARY people. At present they could hit
problems if they exceed the unofficial limits.
Customs say smokers can bring back 800 cigarettes, 400
cigarillos, 200 cigars and one kilo of rolling tobacco.
Drinkers are OK with 110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine
— including up to 60 litres of Champagne and other sparkling
wines — ten litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine,
such as port and sherry.
The Sun is being backed by shoppers’ rights groups.
David Ash, 42, uses his website — www.day-tripper.net —
to campaign for booze cruisers.
The businessman said: “None of this would happen if Britain
didn’t have such ridiculously high excise duties.
“Taxes on alcohol and cigarettes mean we pay much more than
other EU members.”
He added: “It really is very unfair, if not criminal, what
the Government has been doing.
“People who have never done anything wrong are now
returning to our shores in fear.”
He said of Customs: “They are acting like little Hitlers.
People are being bullied and frightened. Somebody has to stop
it.”
