Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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2003 (and previous) press releases
Anything to Declare? Local MP slams removal of customs officers from Newhaven
Local MP Norman Baker will next week have an urgent meeting with Treasury Minister John Healey to ask him to reverse the final removal of all remaining customs officers from Newhaven. The officials are being replaced by an 'honesty phone' for people to shop themselves when they disembark.
The number of customs officials at Newhaven has been slashed each year according to figures released by the Treasury to Mr Baker. From this week there are no officers permanently based at Newhaven and the customs presence at the port will now consist of an 'honesty phone' which arriving ferry passengers can use to declare goods. In sharp contrast, Shoreham Harbour has a total of 60 customs officials.
Speaking about the situation at Newhaven, Norman Baker says:
"While it is right that customs officials use intelligence-led operations to target smugglers, Newhaven needs officers on the ground at all times both to carry out spot checks and to act as a deterrent. It is ludicrous to expect people to use an 'honesty phone' to shop their goods. Is the government also thinking of having an 'honesty box' for smugglers to leave Class A drugs, tobacco and bushmeat they have illegally imported?
"This sends out the wrong message at a time of high terrorist alert. I will be asking the minister next week to reverse the cuts and restore the customs presence at Newhaven immediately."