Beware - Customs monitoring Scuttlebutt

My son and his mate were boarded by this lot. They bashed his boat so hard it still has black rubber marks on it. As boat was just bought they wanted the documentation, which was at home. They asked loads of questions, held up their passage when they were tired and did not appear to have a clue about how a small yacht could be on a 7 day 360 mile passage.

They managed to upset two clever, intelligent, well educated blokes holding down very good jobs and they are unlikely to get much assistance if they treat the public as criminals, guilty until proved innocent.

Had a similar experience off Lowestoft. They wanted us to stop sailing and we wouldn't and told them their rib could keep up with us. As there were 5 old blokes on board, who would not put up with their commando-like tactics, they suddenly mellowed. Did help that their commanding officer on the big ship, when told we didn't want to stop, gave the OK for us to carry on. The head man on board could not even spell and we had to spell out every word of our names and addresses for him.

Not impressed by these thug-like tactics and would never help them.
 
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Had a similar experience off Lowestoft. They wanted us to stop sailing and we wouldn't and told them their rib could keep up with us. As there were 5 old blokes on board, who would not put up with their commando-like tactics, they suddenly mellowed. Did help that their commanding officer on the big ship, when told we didn't want to stop, gave the OK for us to carry on.

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Interesting - never been boarded at sea, but my gut reaction would be not to let anyone onboard whilst at sea without offering resistance, especially if they looked like trouble - no matter who they claimed to be. After all if their was nothing to worry about HMG would not be running patrols trying to catch the bad guys.........

Therefore I am guessing that perfectly legal to refuse the genuine Customs / Plod onboard when underway on a precautionary basis - and any that then try and board are therefore obviously up to no good and need to be dealt with accordingly............downside I guess is the risk of reprisals onshore from a thorough search and demands for paperwork.
 
Needs a MP to ask about the cost and what results have been. But all to late, everthing is a crime now so everybody can be a criminal. I rather suspect that there is a right to privacy under the EU, but probably the UK gov didn't adopt it.

Now I'm an expat in sunny Croatia, much more reasonable.
 
We got boarded by Russian border police, which we were expecting, but the boat was not marked, and they were wearing jeans and trainers with their official jackets. It looked very suspect, but given they were all wearing guns anyway, we gave them the benefit of the doubt.

In the end, they were all very polite, and let us hove to rather than insisting we drop sails, and rowed out to us from the mother ship in a deflating dinghy, rather than risking damage with the big boat. They checked passports, sat in the saloon and drank a glass of vodka with the skipper before reflating their dinghy and rowing off again.

In the UK, I imagine the reason they patrol the solent is because they can jump from boat to boat and add quickly to stats of how many boats they search. If I was a smuggler, I'd probably aim for less populated bits of coast.
 
It is bloody obvious when you are about to be boarded by customs, they have a cutter nearby marked HM Customs in BIG LETTERS from where they launch their RIB.

I'm dumbfounded that anyone would not want them to do their job. If they damage your boat in the process you have a right of redress but that you would want to deny them access in the first place astonishes me.
 
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It is bloody obvious when you are about to be boarded by customs, they have a cutter nearby marked HM Customs in BIG LETTERS from where they launch their RIB.

I'm dumbfounded that anyone would not want them to do their job. If they damage your boat in the process you have a right of redress but that you would want to deny them access in the first place astonishes me.

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Absolutely agree!

These are not new arrivals on the scene as there have always been Revenue Cutters around the coast but in the past their role was purely to control smuggling and illegal immigration. They now have an additional role I guess in border control and anti-terrorism which may give them something to do in between chasing drug smugglers, plus giving HMG something to point at that is being done to protect us even if it isn't.

What has changed is that they used to be rather more clandestine but now they are definitely advertising their presence by being out where they are seen and using the big black and very noisy RIB to board boats more frequently. My guess is that they WANT it known they are out and about.

When this one went out of Poole at the weekend their RIB was in the water as well making a lot of noise and all up maximum exposure and look at us we are here factor. That RIB also has been around in the harbour, even in our marina, once again a visual presence.

We have been boarded by both French and British Customs and last year by the same boat reported here. I don't object at all to that but I do object to the proposed control of the sailing populace with E-Borders which is a different subject entirely.
 
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If I was a smuggler, I'd probably aim for less populated bits of coast.


[/ QUOTE ] Actually, I think I'd stick to the Solent, on the basis that the best way to hide a lamb is in the middle of a flock of sheep..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
We are berthed practically next door to the Customs & Excise hammerhead at Haslar. When we got back from bringing our boat across the pond no-one bothered us for weeks. Then a very polite young lady and gent from Searcher asked to come aboard. They explained they were on a PR mission to let people know their new role etc.
Then they asked for our ships docs, SSR, Bill of Sale and VAT certificate. Thankfully we had them all to hand in a neat folder!! Funny thing was, a month later, this time from Valiant I think, did the same thing. When I explained we had already been PR'd they apologised and went off to my mates boat to talk to him!

All in all a very polite and circumspect bunch .
 
To have 6 or 8 guys in black dry suits and helmets with visors down suddenly bang up against your boat, shout "permission to board" as they jump aboard as if it were an armed seige is not the way to go about it. One mate who has a medical condition was asleep in the cabin and he was shaken and told to get on deck, in early winter with no coat on.

There are ways of doing these inspections and you should not be treated as criminals until proved otherwise.

I also think that they treat bigger, expensive boats with a bit more respect.

You might be happy living in a Police State, I am not. I think that you will change your opinion if it happens to you.

We were also inspected by the Spanish Gardia who were armed. There gunboat came up and hooted and they waved us to stop. They put 2 aboard and held station next to us whilst they inspected our papers. We were in a T24 (yacht) and had just returned from North Africa. They were very polite and they do have a job to do preventing smuggling and trafficing in people. I had no problem at all with the way they treated us. We were not treayed as criminals and we were made fully aware of their presence before they came aboard. Bit different to these jobsworths in the Solent playing commando games.
 
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Not impressed by these thug-like tactics and would never help them.

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Mind you I expect you complain about all the drugs being smuggled into the UK.

The real problem is that whilst you and I know we are completely innocent they don't know that and have to find out for themselves because very starngely the bad guys always say they are the good.
 
Well, I'm sorry that your lad was treated so roughly.

All I can say is that it runs against all of the experiences I and friends have had which is that the borders are polite to a tee and have shown great professionalim in their dealings.
 
If we are serious about stoping drugs coming into the UK then every container that comes into the ports should be opened and searched. Too big a problem isn't it so we have the sham of stoping pleasure boats at sea.

The Spanish approach is highly visible and OK by me. They come in a big gun boat, you see them coming. You see the guardia on their decks with machine guns and you deal with the guys who board you. You wouldn't think to argue. To launch a commando assult on a small boat from a rib is ridiculous. Why don't they take a lesson from our Spanish friends who do have a real problem to deal with.

I think older people on big boats would get more respectful treatment. I bet if David Dimbleby was agressively boarded by surprise whilst sailing at Dartmouth. then we would all hear about it!

PS I am not anti authority. Just disturbed an intruder at the back of my property but I was naked at the time. Chased him but he got away in a van. I got the number and within 5 minutes police cars were out looking for the van. Jolly good responce.
 
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I don't object at all to that but I do object to the proposed control of the sailing populace with E-Borders which is a different subject entirely.

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....err ehm... is this not an obvious and inevitable consequence of all those guys (also on these fora) who bang on about "illegal immigrants" etc supposedly flooding in from teh rest of the universe?

And why should we expect to be exempt from the harrassment of officialdom when we expect the same offcialdom to do something about other human beings who are just trying to improve their lot in life?

(but maybe we should be moving this thread to the lounge?)
 
At the risk of stating the obvious if HM Customs had used a Gardia sized boat on your son's craft I expect that there would be alot more damage. A RIB seems a very sensible type of craft to use for this operation given that they effectively 360 degree fendered.

I also suspect that we are talking about two very different sorts of searches. The ones that are carried out in RIBs with Customs officiers wearing uniforms but not balaclavas and the commando type approach where the guys are. Two very different motives I suspect as well.

Oh well the fact that we are talking about on this board probably means that the message that the Customs are trying to get across is working.
 
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Not impressed by these thug-like tactics and would never help them.

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Mind you I expect you complain about all the drugs being smuggled into the UK.


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I think the point being made is that the search is cursory, ie they are not doing there job properly, i do agree about the black gear and balaclavas etc they actually think that they are something they are not.
if you are going to put someone to the inconvenience of stopping them, then at least do an effective job.
 
"Just disturbed an intruder at the back of my property but I was naked at the time. Chased him but he got away in a van."

Strewth!!!........If you chased after me when you was naked, I would get away in a van as well, any van / car / bicycle......donkey...........



Lord above! The poor man have felt terrified!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
But searching every container is not practical, so we ahve to use a more targeted way of dealing with the problem and just like the Spaniards who also do not search every container out lot make periodic high visibility stop and search patrols. As some one else has pointed out perhaps a RIB is az better vehicle for doing this that a big patrol boat, and more cost effective

My suspicion is you are happy with Mr Plod because he helped you when you wanted it but nasty mr customs man interupted your play time.

Over the last 45 years I have had various contacts with both our customs and those in many other countries, and I have never had anything but couteous and professional service from our lot, even down to once getting a renewal of an export licence over the phone after an oversifght of mine.

At the end of the day stopping you achieved it's objective, a lot of people now have confirmation they are out there and will stop and board at random.
 
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Actually, I think I'd stick to the Solent, on the basis that the best way to hide a lamb is in the middle of a flock of sheep..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ] Absolutely and 20th June would be an ideal day to arrive in the solent.

Pete
 
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