Customs When Back To The UK

[Boss Hogg]

Surely you pays your money and takes your choice!

Everyone knows the limits, and if you decide to spend more than this and get caught then tough I suppose. Someone likened it to speeding in a car, which is a good analogy. There are times when I have driven at more than the limit (naturally no longer) and been caught for it, and whilst it is annoying, you're pretty much done for! Often I don't see traffic police on the motorway, but, I know that they are out there somewhere - customs officers are the same I reckon.

Also, I personally don't believe blaming the EU is the answer either, and for those who know me, you'll know my opinion of the EU. We have an elected government, and if they choose not to amend the allowances it is their decision, not the bureaucrats in the EU. Admittedly their decision may be coloured by other issues, but, it is THEIR decision. Otherwise how did we ever get the veto? Not by doing what was good for the EU I feel.

Also, duty rates in this country are set by the government, not the EU. Maybe the answer is for the chancellor to lower duty rates to encourage more "honesty" and not make requests/pleas to have the limit increased which IMHO are simply soundbites.

 

[floridalol]

respect for our laws (which IMHO favour criminals and punish victims) has appeard in this thread. I recieved an e-mail sometime ago which I paste below for your amusement

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little over 500 employees, yet has the following statistics? 29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad cheques

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

<hr size="1"> Can you guess which organization this is?

They are members of the British Houses of Parliament, that's the same group that produces hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in check.

Though it would be lovely to believe this email unfortunately it is blatantly untrue as it is illegal to be an MP if you have been bankrupt or have been imprisoned for any offence.

 

[Goofyish]

It should also be noted that any duty free items purchased at the airport on your way out count towards your £145 if you then brint the item back into the UK on your return!

 

[kylie]

Bobby Sand RepublicanMP for west belfast, Elected while in the maze prison.
Rev Ian Paisley MP MEP MLA has served 2 sentences for civilprotest.
These are two to my knowledge which tend to sugest I may not be wrong. Having said that i've been wrong before and will be again, maybe

Need I mention Jeffery Archer?

 

[Amyrlin]

Though it would be lovely to believe this email unfortunately it is blatantly untrue as it is illegal to be an MP if you have been bankrupt or have been imprisoned for any offence.

If i remember correctly you can be an MP, but it is not possible to sit in the house of commons whilst imprisioned (or absconding) or if there has been a prison term of more than 12 months given. They can be an MP.

For bankruptcy I beleive they cannot be an MP while subject the the constriants of bankrupcy, but there is no ban after they have been discharged

 

[patdavies]

Need I mention Jeffery Archer?

Jeffery Archer was not an MP following imprisionment. He was a member of the Lords, not the Commons

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

also, over what period of time is that "statistic" based upon?

Arrested for Drink driving is NOT the same as being CONVICTED of DD.

In any large company, you would be surprised how many people would fit the catergories in those "statistics". How about the Welsh assembly then? where are the "statistics" for that?