| Brandy for the Parson? |
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Page 4 of 8 John Healey, from HM Treasury, defended the introduction of the changes by emphasising how modern-day smuggling is big business, operated by sophisticated international gangs. He said: “A thin blue line of static customs officers on routine duties at low-threat ports does not deter the well-resourced criminals who are determined to breach our borders.” “Without intelligence-led targeting, there would be no hope of identifying the few offending vessels among many thousands along nearly 500 miles of coastline between Dover and Land’s End.” Yet critics maintain manpower is being redirected to Dover or Heathrow Airport, leaving Cornwall’s maritime borders wide open. There is no longer an officer stationed on Scilly to collect intelligence about vessels headed for the mainland. Uniformed officers stationed at Falmouth, Plymouth and the Isles of Scilly were removed in 2003 to join ‘mobile’ teams. They now spend much of their time at Dover, the Channel Tunnel, Heathrow and Gatwick. Customs officers used to have a flotilla of nimble Delta craft that could navigate the tricky coastline at 40 knots and challenge small vessels. All were sold after customs decided small inshore boats were ‘not an effective deterrent’. Falmouth used to seize more firearms than any British port but there have been no seizures since 2003. “We believe it is inconceivable that firearms are no longer entering the UK through this route,” the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing Customs officers, has briefed MPs. Meanwhile, satisfactory answers to parliamentary questions have not been forthcoming. |
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