Customs Officers in the UK

Officers working for HM Revenue and Customs Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency (UKBA Home Office’s Border Agency) collect a range of taxes and duties, control imported and exported goods, and prevent banned items from entering or leaving the United Kingdom. Customs officers are appointed by the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs, who are in turn appointed by the Queen. Failure to return a commission by an officer is an offence as is imitating or obstructing an officer.

At any time, any officer may board and search: ships within the limits of a port, aircraft at aerodromes, or vehicles. Officers may examine any goods carried or to be carried in a coasting ships at any time while they are on board the ship, or at any place in the United Kingdom to which the goods have been brought for shipment in, or at which they have been unloaded from, the ship.

Officers may ask questions with respect to the baggage of people entering or leaving the United Kingdom and anything contained therein or carried with them. They may inspect such baggage. Any person entering the UK from outside the EU who fails to declare anything or to produce any baggage or thing as required commits an offence. Anything chargeable with any duty or tax which is found concealed, or is not declared, and any thing which is being taken into or out of the UK contrary to any prohibition or restriction can be seized.

If an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that any secret pipe or other means of conveyance, cock, vessel or utensil is kept or used by a distiller, rectifier, compounder, registered brewer, producer of wine, producer of made-wine and maker of cider, that officer may, at any time, break open any part of the premises of that trader and forcibly enter them and so far as is reasonably necessary break up the ground in or adjoining those premises or any wall thereof to search for that pipe or other means of conveyance, cock, vessel or utensil.

If the officer finds any such pipe or other form of conveyance leading to or from the trader’s premises, he may enter any other premises from or into which it leads. Officers must be accompanied by a constable at night.

Officers may detain any person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, any offence for which he is liable to be detained under the customs and excise Acts at any time within 20 years from the date of the commission of the offence.

Officers may seize any ship, aircraft, vehicle, animal, container (including any article of passengers’ baggage) or other thing which has been used for the carriage, handling, deposit or concealment of anything that has become liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.

Officers may take samples of certain goods, enter premises with a writ of assistance or search warrant and stop and search vehicles or vessels where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they are carrying or may be carrying any goods which are: a) chargeable with any duty which has not been paid or secured, b) in the course of being unlawfully removed from or to any place, or c) otherwise liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. Officers may detain people to search their possessions for dutiable alcoholic liquor, or tobacco products, which are chargeable with any duty of excise, and liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.

Exercise 7.Match each definition with the correct word. Translate the words into Russian and learn them by heart.

Exercise 8. Choose the right answer. More than one variant is possible.

1. Whom are the customs officers appointed by?

a) the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs; b) the UK Border Agency;

c) the Queen; d) the Ministry of Finance.

2. What does HM Revenue and Customs prevent?

a) forbidden goods from transporting across the state borders; b) white slavery;

c) banned items from entering or leaving the United Kingdom; d) murders.

3. What may any officer board and search?

a) aero planes; b) bicycles; c) houses and flats; d) ships, aircraft, vehicles.

4. What can be seized?

a) anything chargeable with any duty or tax which is found concealed;

b) anything in the dirty packing;

c) gold and other precious metals;

d) stolen items.

5. Who must customs officers be accompanied by at night?

a) parents; b) chief; c) scientific supervisor; d) a constable.

6. In what circumstances may officers take samples of certain goods?

a) if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that this man is an offender;

b) if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that this man tries to smuggle;

c) if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that this man is homosexual;

d) if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that this man tries to violate any crime.

7. Whom does the Queen designate?

a) officers of HM Revenue and Customs; b) HM Revenue and Customs;

c) the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs; d) her heir apparent.

8. What does “HM” mean in the name of British Customs?

a) Housing Market; b) Her Majesty; c) Hard Music; d) Her Mother.

9. What may the officer do if he finds any pipe on the traders?

a) may enter any other premises; b) must keep silence;

c) may do arrest; d) may kill the offender.

10. What act of law regulates the size of tax, levy and duty?

a) the Royal decree; b) the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs;

c) The Right of the Bill; d) Customs and Excise Management Act.

Exercise 9.Fill in the table. Add two more categories for comparison.

Exercise 10. Fill in the gaps using the words given below, and translate the sentences into Russian.

treaty competence elections unlawful centralized system

taxes policy budget damage port

1. The customs officers act within the sphere of their ... . 2. The plan for expansion of our region is subsidized from the state … . 3. The court’s decision was …, that is why the barrister will appeal in the Court of Appeal. 4. A … is a formal agreement between two or more states, as in reference to terms of peace or trade. 5. The court awarded … . 6. They are going to have to levy some new … . 7. They may interfere in … by bribing or intimidating the electors. 8. The Prime Minister may promote the customs … . 9. Custom officers are the part of an integrated federal … . 10. Any officer may search ships within the limits of a … .

Exercise 11. Replace theunderlined words with the synonym.

1. The city council banned billboards on most streets.

a) accused; b) allowed; c) forbade; d) claimed.

2. “Do you have any banned items?” – ask the customs officer.

a) functions; b) urgent problems; c) actual questions; d) prohibited goods.

3. The customs officers are empowered to act on behalf of Customs Servise.

a) chosen; b) authorized; c) thought; d) fined.

4. They imposed a 5% levy on alcohol.

a) tax; b) rate; c) task; d) duty.

5. If the person doesn’t fail to declare he/she commits an offence.

a) felony; b) crime; c) manslaughter; d) benefaction.

6. To enter any country you must fill in the customs declaration.

a) bill of entry; b) curriculum vitae; c) final test; d) personal induction card.

7. This organization is subsidizes from private recourses.

a) property; b) founds; c) life; d) point of view.

8. This articles are breakable. You must remove is carefully.

a) transport; b) bring; c) take; d) export.

9. It isn’t allow to import more than 3 l alcoholic beverages per man. This limit is established by legislation.

a) size; b) restriction; c) volume; d) tax.

10. The court found his act unlawful though the society didn’t agree with this verdict.

a) illegal; b) single; c) separate; d) strain.

Exercise 12.Match the verbs on the left with the nouns on the right. Make up sentences with the phrases you have got.

Exercise 13.Choose the most suitable word in each sentence.

1. The Customs/Customer Service of the Russian Federation is a public administration body. 2. This Minister tries to levy/lay customs duties and taxes all imported vehicles. 3. The main task of the customs officers today is to provide/prevent smuggling. 4. If you don’t ensure/care protection of my property I won’t cooperate with you. 5. If you don’t have a high/higher education, you cannot work as a customs officer. 6. There are duty/tax free zones in many countries. 7. The customs officer may check your hand luggage/baggage. 8. You are wrong to doubt/suspect that he has many immovables in many countries. 9. You will bear/take material responsibility if break this device. 10. The firm sent its state/staff to advanced training.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 2026