When authority Goes to Ones Head

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After watching my friend who I am visiting go through hell caused by a worker that visited his home from the UK Pensions Department I pick up the local paper and read a letter from an elderly man who had a horrific experience at the hands an employee of Her Majestys Customs & Excise. This man and his disabled wife had taken a trip in their car to Zebrugge - going and returning to Hull by ferry. While in Zebrugge they had purchased cigarettes for themselves and a few for family and friends as gifts. When they got back into Hull they were stopped and questioned by a Customs & Excise employee. In my opinion the were treated terribly. They declared what they had even though they realized it was slightly over the allowed amount. They were ordered out of their car and questioned in a freezing cold customs shed while their car was searched. The mans wife aged 60 has had several minor plus one very serious stroke and is considered disabled but she had to stand there shivering while the car was searched. The customs man seized their car and the gifts etc. that they had in it. Then he asked the wife if she had any reason to persuade him to return the car. She broke down and cried and pleaded with him to let them have their car to get home - all to no avail. The man said "I'm not hearing anything new. The car is gone." The man asked how they were supposed to get home and was told it was not the customs officers problem - and for them to get a taxi to the station and ride a train home. At no point did this obnoxious customs agent give them the opportunity to pay duty on the goods. He just took them along with their car. This poor couple are now fighting a costly fight to get their car back - something that could take several months. I find this story abominable - someone should investigate this and the customs officer should be out of a job for his cruelty to an elderly couple one of whom is disabled and had just been on a trip as they often do to relive their boredom of staying at home. From what I read and have seen first hand the UK Government hires the most arrogant, rude and obnoxious people they can find to deal with the public. I know some people deserve it - but it is not deserved by all.