Havent HM Customs anything better to do?

Searush said:
One needs the confidence to ignore irrelevant technical transgressions and the strength to deal with those taking the mickey. AND the wisdom to tell the difference.
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Well put :cool:


nz1vsm.jpg
 
I expect they were looking for something more serious, but found nothing so did them for the only thing they could find wrong. To be fair, searching a ship and finding nothing is not really a waste of time, but taking cigs from poor Russian sailors just because you can is nothing to be proud of.
 
Of course you can't ignore a law breaker but they seemed to think in advance that there might be a 'fag' problem BEFORE they got on board and surely, there are greater transgressions about that they could look into FIRST. Then if they have the time, sort out the smaller problems. It's not like they have Zero Tolerance ambitions so that EVERY transgression is dealt with.

As I've said before, we seem to have an attitiude in this country's police forces that dealing with the 'easy' targets is doing the job the public actually want done! In my opinion it definitely is not.
 
Is there any reason why the officer in charge of the customs party could not have pointed out to the Russian Captain that he was, technically, in breach of the law but, under the circumstances, he would take no further action?

I believe there's a word for it. Let me see .......... Ah yes, I remember.

It's called discretion - useful thing for an officer to have.
 
Dear me. Don't you think the fact that the cameras were rolling at the time might have effected how they reacted? It's like all those people on seaside rescue who get picked up when they really don't need it.

I have to say if I was being filmed doing my job for the telly I'd be doing it by the book too. Do you think the chap in charge wanted every one of his superiors being able to watch him not do his job properly by letting the Russians off?


Finally, it's television. Chances are the Russian crew were given a brief beforehand and got paid well in excess of their fine. Plus their 15 seconds of fame.
 
Evadne said:
I expect they were looking for something more serious, but found nothing so did them for the only thing they could find wrong. To be fair, searching a ship and finding nothing is not really a waste of time, but taking cigs from poor Russian sailors just because you can is nothing to be proud of.
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I suspect you may not have seen (all) the footage ? The filming started off on the customs cutter - they had prior intelligence of the duty-free fags, and were aware of the length of time the ship was at anchor (3 weeks if memory serves). From previous experience they knew that handing out duty-free fags was customary after such a prolonged time at anchor. They inspected the ship with only these cigarettes in mind. AFAIK they didn't search the ship, but only inspected the bond store.
Talk about jobsworths - a warning/caution would have been far more appropriate. Well, that's one skipper they won't be able to rely on for a tip-off if he spots something really serious taking place.
 
Got paid well in excess of their fine
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??????:confused:

What planet are you from? Do you think the the crims in police reality shows get paid for being arrested? Do you think the public interviewed in the recent floods got paid? Get real will you.

The whole point of these "reality" programmes is that they are cheap to make & require few if any paid presenters plus a very small O/B crew. People who appear on them are notrepresented by Equity & do not get paid - unless it is a reconstruction using actors (and that will generally be announced as on Crimewatch)
 
Searush said:
??????:confused:

What planet are you from? Do you think the the crims in police reality shows get paid for being arrested? Do you think the public interviewed in the recent floods got paid? Get real will you.

The whole point of these "reality" programmes is that they are cheap to make & require few if any paid presenters plus a very small O/B crew. People who appear on them are notrepresented by Equity & do not get paid - unless it is a reconstruction using actors (and that will generally be announced as on Crimewatch)
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Just because it's a "reality" tv programme doesn't mean that you can believe anything that goes on in it. Who's to say that the production company didn't give them a few cartons of ciggies for being co-operative towards the customs and the film crew?
 
Woodlouse said:
Just because it's a "reality" tv programme doesn't mean that you can believe anything that goes on in it. Who's to say that the production company didn't give them a few cartons of ciggies for being co-operative towards the customs and the film crew?
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I'm not a regular contributor...but I really can't let this one pass.

If the *possibility* of what *could have* happened is the best argument that can be presented, then I think the point has been lost.

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"KEEP YOUR HEAD"
 
Squeaky said:
Good evening:

I don't know if it is part of the British character or not but I have noticed that once someone puts a uniform on a Brit he becomes a narrow minded dummy who loses any common sense that he/she might once have had. Thank heavens I don't have to have anything to do with anyone of the mentality of "Doghousekeeper".

There was a military expression that "he has the common sense of a lance corporal" - seems to fit the type I am referring to above.

Cheers

Squeaky
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hi ive been reading with many thoughts about this guy ...most likely hates .. beening nice to any one...and lives by the book realy dull life hey??????
 
graham said:
It must have reminded the Captain of the dark days of Oppression in Soviet Russia
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No - it will have reminded them of the corrupt police back home. They will have assumed the fags just disappear. Mind you, I wonder what the system is for counting the fags on confiscation and then back at the base.

Apparently some drugs do disappear when our police confiscate
 
PilotWolf said:
So they should have ignored the breaking of the law? How many people would then have slated them for not enforcing the laws and not doing their job?

PW.
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What seems to be missed is: would HMRC have actually cofiscated the fags if the camera crew wasn't present? This could be a case of "we would nomally ignore this but as the TV mob is watching, we had better do what we are paid for.."

Or does anyone have experience of HMRC actually being that petty in the normal course of events?
 
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