"Celebrity" angler fined for car boot fish smuggling
"Celebrity" angler fined for car boot fish smuggling
A professional angler caught trying to smuggle live fish from Britain
to Ireland to use as bait has been fined £800 and ordered to pay £500
costs.
Nigel Williams admitted trying to smuggle more than 200 live fish
including carp, roach and goldfish out of the country without health and
export certificates required by law.
Transporting live fish without the correct documents is banned to stop
the spread of disease.
Fellow angler Gary Banks was ordered to pay £1,300 (£800 fine and £500
cost) last month after admitting similar offences.
Holyhead Magistrates heard how customs officers and fish health
inspectors found two large tanks of fish in the back of Williams and Banks'
cars when they were stopped attempting to board a ferry to Ireland at
Holyhead in May this year.
The men were detained after an investigation by the Centre for
Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), an executive agency of
Defra.
Cefas investigator Steve Maidment said:
"Angling is not a game to be played by a few professionals, it is a
sport enjoyed by millions and is acutely vulnerable to the threat of fatal
fish diseases. The most important element of the sport is healthy
fish - if they die then so does angling.
"We are determined to prevent illegal shipments of live fish out of or
into Britain, and we will pursue vigorously anyone breaking the law and
risking the health of our indigenous fish stocks."
Off duty Coastguard and Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland rescue man
Off duty Coastguard and Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland rescue man and assist injured crew
At three o'clock Sunday 13th Aug the sailing vessel 'Lazy life' on
passage from the Hamble to CarrickFergus in Northern Ireland sent a mayday
relay to Portland Coastguard after sighting a yacht in front of them
letting off handheld red flares, which indicated that they had a distress
situation.
Upon reaching the yacht 'Talisman' which had a crew of one man and
three women and a child, they discovered that the man had gone overboard
from the yacht.
The yacht 'Lazy Life' immediately started searching for this man whilst
passing this information to Portland Coastguard.
Portland Coastguard called out the Swanage Coastguard rescue team,
requested the launch of Swanage RNLI lifeboat and inshore lifeboat and
scrambled the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland.
The yacht 'Lazy Life' managed to find the man in the water and recover
him alive. They then took him back to the yacht 'Talisman' and
transferred him back to his boat. Upon doing this they then discovered one of
the ladies unconscious over the steering position of the yacht.
The Coastguard helicopter 'Whisky Bravo' winched the lady off the yacht
and transferred her to Poole General Hospital.
Swanage lifeboat took off the remaining crew from the Talisman and took
them to Swanage where they will be checked over by Dorset Ambulance
personnel, and crew members from the lifeboat are sailing the yacht in.
Jim Anderson, Watch Manager, Portland Coastguard said:
"The crew of the yacht 'Lazy Life' are Ian Murdoch and Lord Glentoran
CBE DL, the owner of the yacht. Ian is an off duty Watch Manager from
Belfast Coastguard.
I am pleased that the man overboard was rescued and that we were able
to quickly evacuate the lady who had sustained an injury.
Ian and Lord Glentoran did an excellent job in finding and recovering
this man and also keeping us up to date with information regarding the
situation with the lady who is now being treated in hospital."
Lucky escape for swimmer
Lucky escape for swimmer
A 56 year old woman had a lucky escape this afternoon when she
encountered difficulties in the water whilst having a swim at Groomsport, near
Bangor due to the severe weather conditions.
Massive fuel laundering operation stopped
Massive fuel laundering operation stopped
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have dismantled a large sophisticated fuel-laundering plant and seized 27,000 litres of illegal fuel. The estimated output of the plant was 280,000 litres per week with a potential annual revenue loss of nearly £9 million.
In the joint operation with PSNI and Environmental Heritage Service yesterday, (Thursday 27 July) in the Killeavey area of Co Armagh, HMRC also removed three tonnes of highly toxic acid waste and 500 litres of pure acid from the site.
A curtain-sided heavy goods vehicle adapted to carry a tanker body for transporting fuel, seven industrial tanks, generators, pumps and filtration equipment were also seized.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Maggie Eyden said:
"In the second successful operation in the space of a week, Revenue & Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. If this sophisticated operation to illegally remove the chemical markers in duty-rebated fuel had not been shut down, it would have meant an annual revenue loss of nearly £9 million. This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few individuals.
"People need to be aware of the potential environmental damage that can be caused by the indiscriminate dumping in our countryside of the waste products from the laundering process. They need to consider what happens to the waste by product and the damage caused by contamination to arable land and our water and rivers as well as the cost to taxpayers and local ratepayers for its safe disposal.
"The success of this operation is a result of our determined efforts, along with our partners in the Organised Crime Task Force, to disrupt and dismantle the illegal supply of fuel. Organised crime has a detrimental and harmful effect on all our communities as well as a damaging impact on our environment. HMRC is keen to work closely with local people and communities in the fight against crime and I would urge the public to contact our freephone hotline 0800 59 5000 and let us know of any fuel misuse or suspicious activities in their area".
Northern Ireland Public Asked About Terrorism
Northern Ireland Public Asked About Terrorism
The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws, Alex Carlile QC, is to
consult the public on the definition of terrorism. Lord Carlile is inviting
all in Northern Ireland who are interested to attend a local meeting
being held in Belfast on Monday (July 3). He said:
"The public has as much right as politicians and academics to
contribute to a discussion about what is terrorism. My workshops will be led by
experts but all will be welcome to have their say."
Monday's meeting is being held in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast between
10.30am and 1.00pm.
Other workshops are being held in Glasgow, London, Cardiff and
Nottingham.
No tickets are required, but all attending should being identification.
Low Pay Commission Visit To Belfast
Low Pay Commission Visit To Belfast
Three Low Pay Commissioners will visit Belfast on a fact-finding visit
about the National Minimum Wage on Wednesday 28 June.
Paul Gates, Heather Wakefield and Ian Hay will meet employers and
employees to find out how the National Minimum Wage has affected them. Low
Pay Commissioner Paul Gates said: We want to hear the views of all
groups with an interest in the minimum wage. Listening to those directly
affected by the minimum wage is a crucial part of the Commission's work in
making recommendations to the Government. We welcome the opportunity
to hear how it has affected people in Belfast.
COMMITTEE'S PUBLIC HEARING IN BELFAST
COMMITTEE'S PUBLIC HEARING IN BELFAST FOR ITS ELEVENTH INQUIRY INTO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Key witnesses from the Electoral Commission, political parties and the
Chief Electoral Officer are giving evidence today (Wednesday) at the
Belfast public hearing for the Committee on Standards in Public Life's
eleventh inquiry.
The Inquiry is looking at key themes critical to public trust in our
democratic system through a review of the mandate, governance and
accountability of the Electoral Commission.
Issues already raised in written evidence to the Committee
(http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/11thinquiry/evidence.asp) include:
- the integrity and application of the current political party funding
arrangements, and implications of any changes;
- electoral propriety including voter registration, electoral
administration and electoral fraud; and
- the contribution these issues make to voter engagement with the
political process.
In his opening statement today (Wednesday), Committee chairman, Sir
Alistair Graham, comments:
"This inquiry is an important one. If we look at the foundations of our
democracy, then healthy competitive political parties and confidence in
the electoral process are two critical cornerstones. Any doubts about
the integrity by which political parties are funded or in the trust we
can place in free and fair elections have the potential to critically
undermine the health of our democracy, and the extent to which the public
is prepared to engage in the political process."
"This Committee has held hearings in Belfast for many of its 11
inquiries and we are, as always, delighted to be here and looking forward to
learning about the work of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland
and the approach taken to the administration of elections, voter
registration and political party funding. It is already clear from the
evidence we have received that there may be important lessons that can be
learnt for other parts of the United Kingdom."
"At our hearing today we are interested to learn how the Commission has
discharged its mandate in Northern Ireland and whether the governance
and accountability of the Commission takes sufficient account of its
mandate here. We will also be particularly interested to learn about the
impact of the system of individual voter registration in Northern
Ireland and the lessons that may be learnt if such a system were introduced
more widely in the UK."
Witnesses have been invited to help the Committee examine the current
responsibilities of The Electoral Commission, set up five years ago
following the Fifth Report of the Committee in 1998. The Commission is an
independent body set up by Parliament to promote integrity,
effectiveness and participation in the democratic process.
The following witnesses are to give evidence today (Wednesday) at The
Radisson SAS Hotel, The Gasworks, 3 Cromac Place, Omeau Road, Belfast,
BT7 2JB:
09.30-09.35 Opening Statement, Sir Alistair Graham
09.35-10.00 Mark Devenport, Political Editor, BBC Northern Ireland
10.00-10.45 Karamjit Singh and Seamus Magee, Electoral Commission
10.45-11.15 Douglas Bain, Chief Electoral Officer, June Butler,
Assistant Chief Electoral Officer
11.30-12.00 Denis Stanley
12.00-12.30 John Fisher, Secretary to the NI Parliamentary Boundary
Commission
14.00-14.30 SDLP
14.30-15.00 UUP
15.00-15.30 DUP
15.45-16.15 Alliance
16.15-16.45 Sinn Fein
The Committee is holding public hearings in Edinburgh, Cardiff and
London. The Committee will then consider all the evidence and intends to
publish conclusions and recommendations towards the end of this year.
LAUNDERING PLANT DISMANTLED IN CO ARMAGH
LAUNDERING PLANT DISMANTLED IN CO ARMAGH
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in a joint operation with PSNI have
dismantled a mobile fuel-laundering plant and seized 9,600 litres of illegal
fuel at three sites in County Armagh.
Four tonnes of highly toxic acid waste, some of it having leaked into a
nearby stream was removed from the illegal fuel laundering plant in the
Cullyhanna area. The estimated output of the plant was 75,000 litres
per week with a potential annual revenue loss of nearly £1.8 million.
During the operation on Monday 5 June an illegal huckster filling
station in the Jonesborough area was also closed down and 7000 litres of
illegal fuel was seized along with fuel storage equipment. A further
2,600 litres of fuel was detained at a retail filling station in a nearby
area.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Maggie Eyden said:
"Revenue & Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of
harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. If
these sophisticated operations to illegally remove the chemical markers in
duty-rebated fuel had not been shut down, it would have meant an annual
revenue loss of nearly £1.8million. This is revenue that should be
going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few
individuals.
"People need to be aware of the potential environmental damage that can
be caused by the indiscriminate dumping in our countryside of the waste
products from the laundering process. They need to consider what
happens to the waste by product and the damage caused by contamination to
arable land and our water and rivers".
FREE HELP WITH CHILD TRUST FUNDS
FREE HELP WITH CHILD TRUST FUNDS
Every child born on or after 1 September 2002 and who lives in the UK,
is eligible for a £250 voucher to open a Child Trust Fund (CTF)
account.
If you haven't used yours yet, then at the Big into Baby show this
Saturday and Sunday, 3/4 June at the King's Hall, Belfast, HM Revenue &
Customs staff from the Child Trust Fund Office will be on hand to answer
any queries you have about investing the voucher for your child's
future.
More than three in four of the earliest Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers
have been used to open an account, according to quarterly statistics
published by HM Revenue & Customs this week.
Welcoming the figures, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Ed Balls,
said:
"I am pleased to announce that more than 1.6 million Child Trust Fund
accounts have been opened so far. The Child Trust Fund is a vital
element in the Government's saving strategy ensuring that at age 18 every
child will have access to a financial asset. But there is more work to do
to reach new parents and to encourage the active involvement of those
parents whose child has an account. We will be doing further promotional
work over the summer and autumn in the run up to the launch of the
first annual report in September."
DRUG SMUGGLER JAILED AND DEPORTED
DRUG SMUGGLER JAILED AND DEPORTED
A South African national was today jailed for twenty-two months at
Belfast Crown Court, with a recommendation for deportation on release,
after pleading guilty to smuggling cannabis into Belfast.
Martha Maria Johanna Schmittdiel was arrested at Belfast City Airport
on 7 July 2005 after a search of her suitcase by HM Revenue & Customs
(HMRC) officers revealed over 21 kilos of herbal cannabis with an
estimated value of £210,000.
HMRC Acting Head of Investigation in Northern Ireland, John Whiting
said:
"HMRC investigators and detection officers at Northern Ireland's
airports and ports are determined to stop all drugs reaching our streets. The
removal of £210,000 worth of cannabis from the criminal supply chain
shows our commitment to reduce the availability of harmful drugs in
Northern Ireland ".
"In line with the UK Government's drugs strategy, we work with our
partners at home and abroad to reduce the availability of Class A drugs,
while continuing to detect and prosecute smugglers of other illegal drugs
such as cannabis.
"Today's case sends another significant warning to anyone tempted to
smuggle drugs. If you know of any suspicious activities which may be
linked to drug smuggling, call our 24-hour freephone 0800 59 5000."
His Honour Judge Lockie said:
"This is a most serious offence bearing in mind the effect that the
deportation order would have. Schmittdiel is a well educated lady, well
aware of the contents of the suitcase and being so acted as a courier,
with her remuneration being the cost of the holiday."
Martha Maria Johanna Schmittdiel, 34, of 26 Norton Street, Elsburg,
Gauteng, South Africa travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town to London
Heathrow to Belfast City Airport.
Mrs. Schmittdiel pleaded guilty on 8 May 2006 at an arraignment hearing
at Laganside Court.
She has remained in custody since her arrest and has a notional release
date of 6 June 2006, when she will be transferred to an Immigration
Service holding centre pending deportation to South Africa.
'BACK TO THE FUTURE' FOR LOCAL FARMING FAMILIES
'BACK TO THE FUTURE' FOR LOCAL FARMING FAMILIES
Farming families in the Peak District and Ireland are to work together
to create a greener future as part of a new project by Peak, Dales and
Moorlands Leader+.
'Future Farms' is the second transnational project to receive European
and Defra funding as part of the Leader+ programme aimed at improving
the quality of life and economic prosperity of the Peak District.
The project, to be run by The Farming Life Centre at Blackwell Hall
Farm near Buxton, is seeking members of the farming community,
particularly women and young people, who would like to get involved and who are
able to travel to Ireland to see how landowners there have diversified
their business.
Farm Futures will bring together farming families from across Ireland
and the Peak District to inspire them to diversify their business
through a series of workshops and networking events with speakers, business
advisors and successful farming entrepreneurs.
Jennifer Bower from The Farming Life Centre Charity, is enthusiastic
about the project, she said:
"This scheme ties in really well with the work we already do here at
the centre. Our work is to maintain a sustainable community by looking at
the values of the past and present and applying them to the future to
promote a better quality of life for farming families."
"This is a great opportunity for participants to see a different
picture and learn how people in another country and across the region with
similar backgrounds use available resources to expand into other areas.
We are hoping to run three exchange visits so that Peak District and
Irish participants will be able to share ideas and exchange tips."
"Women and young people from across the Peak District will visit other
farmers throughout the region who have successfully diversified their
farms. Work has already begun to find participants and we are looking
for a varied range of people, including some who will be available to
travel to Ireland and stay for a short period."
Cathie Clarke from Leader+ for the Peak, Dales and Moorland Local
Action Group, part of the Rural Action Zone and based in Bakewell,
Derbyshire, added:
"We believe that this is the first time that funding has become
available for inspiring people in this way. There is already considerable
support available if you already have a business idea and want to develop
it, but nothing is currently offered to farming families who need help
identifying the potential of their farm for diversification and
generating the initial idea."
"Some farming communities may be very isolated and do not have the time
or money to go and explore other options and ideas. By seeing at first
hand a wide range of new initiatives that have begun on local farms and
those abroad, we hope they will be encouraged to take the next step and
investigate how they can transform their current business.
"By the end of the project it is hoped that a good support network will
have developed within the community so that a self-sustaining
environment can be maintained long after the scheme has finished."
"We are currently looking for people to become involved with the
project. A lot of the training and workshops we run will depend on the
interests of the people who want to participate."
For further information, please contact Jennifer Bower at the Farming
Life Centre at Blackwell Hall Farm on 01298 85162 or visit
http://www.thefarminglifecentre.org.uk
EMPLOYERTALK COMES TO BELFAST
EMPLOYERTALK COMES TO BELFAST
Free payroll advice for employers from HM Revenue & Customs
Employers, payroll agents and accountants in Northern Ireland are being
offered free payroll advice by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) when the
EmployerTalk event comes to the Ramada Hotel, Shaw's Bridge, Belfast on 7
June.
EmployerTalk offers everyone involved in payroll the chance to talk
face-to-face with HMRC experts and to hear about the latest news and
developments on a range of topics.
"This is a chance for employers to hear from us - and more importantly,
for us to learn from employers," says Declan Haughey, HMRC organiser
for EmployerTalk 2006.
"Payroll is a key business topic and employers looking for advice on
making the process easier will not be disappointed. Smaller businesses in
particular will be interested in how to get a tax-free payment from us
for filing their Employer's Annual Return on line using the HMRC's
secure internet service.
"As part of the event, help and advice will be available on the new
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), which comes into effect in April 2007.
Under new CIS, there will be changes to requirements for contractors
who engage subcontractors in the construction industry."
EmployerTalk will open at 08.45 on Wednesday 7 June and the exhibition
will close at 16:30.
The event in Belfast is one of 16 taking place throughout the UK. Last
year, more than 15,000 people attended the EmployerTalk events across
the country.
EMPLOYERTALK COMES TO BELFAST
EMPLOYERTALK COMES TO BELFAST
Free payroll advice for employers from HM Revenue & Customs
Employers, payroll agents and accountants in Northern Ireland are being
offered free payroll advice by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) when the
EmployerTalk event comes to the Ramada Hotel, Shaw's Bridge, Belfast on 7
June.
EmployerTalk offers everyone involved in payroll the chance to talk
face-to-face with HMRC experts and to hear about the latest news and
developments on a range of topics.
"This is a chance for employers to hear from us - and more importantly,
for us to learn from employers," says Declan Haughey, HMRC event
organiser for EmployerTalk 2006.
"Payroll is a key business topic and employers looking for advice on
making the process easier will not be disappointed. Smaller businesses in
particular will be interested in how to get a tax-free payment from us
for filing their Employer's Annual Return on line using the HMRC's
secure internet service."
EmployerTalk will open at 08.45 on Wednesday 7 June and the exhibition
will close at 16:30.
The event in Belfast is one of 16 taking place throughout the UK. Last
year, more than 15,000 people attended the EmployerTalk events across
the country.
Attendees should register online at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/talk.htm, or telephone
Sam French on 0845 366 7878.
TACKLING THE ILLEGAL FUEL TRADE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
TACKLING THE ILLEGAL FUEL TRADE IN NORTHERN IRELAND
In a series of multi-agency operations, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and
PSNI officers, have seized 55,000 litres of illegal fuel, a mobile fuel
laundering plant and five vehicles involved in transporting illegal
fuel.
The seizures follow raids over the last forty-eight hours, in Counties
Armagh and Antrim, at a number of huckster sites and commercial
premises involved in the storage, distribution and sale of illegal fuel.
Filling stations, oil distributors and huckster sites at six locations in
the Jonesborough, Newry and Belfast areas were searched, and fuel storage
tanks and vehicles were tested for illegal fuel.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Maggie Eyden said:
"These HMRC and PSNI operations show how joint working, as part of the
Organised Crime Task Force, can stop substantial amounts of harmful
diesel entering the legitimate fuel market and supports Revenue & Customs'
ongoing crackdown on the sale and use of illegal fuel across Northern
Ireland.
"Money is the lifeblood of serious and organised criminality, and these
actions have disrupted a number of criminal enterprises in Northern
Ireland. Any company willing to use illegal fuel has an unfair advantage
and are therefore making it more difficult for legitimate companies to
compete.
"This is the third laundering plant my officers have uncovered in
recent weeks. People need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues
surrounding laundering plants. They need to consider what happens to
the waste by product and the damage caused by contamination to arable
land and our water and rivers. That is why I would urge the members of the
public to contact our freephone hotline 0800 59 5000 and let us know of
any of any fuel misuse or suspicious activities in their area."
During the operations, the search of an illegal fuel storage and
huckster site in the Jonesborough area, led to the seizure of 26,300 litres
of laundered fuel and kerosene, a mobile fuel laundering plant and a
vehicle adapted for transporting the illegal fuel. The plant had the
potential to launder 150,000 litres of fuel a week with an estimated annual
revenue loss of £2.5 million.
In operations targeting the sale of illegal fuel, Revenue & Customs
officers tested fuel at a filling station in the Newry area last night.
This led to the detention of 4,000 litres of fuel. As the operations
continued today, three huckster sites in Belfast were visited and 7,400
litres of contaminated fuel were seized.
In a separate operation, following the detection by PSNI of a lorry
transporting 2,000 litres of illegal fuel, Revenue & Customs officers
searched the premises of a fuel distributor in County Antrim and seized
three fuel tankers and 14,800 litres of mixed fuel.
Enquiries are continuing into the illegal fuel use detected.
ILLEGAL FUEL LAUNDERING PLANT RAIDED IN CO ARMAGH
ILLEGAL FUEL LAUNDERING PLANT RAIDED IN CO ARMAGH
An illegal fuel laundering plant has been raided by HM Revenue &
Customs (HMRC) in Co Armagh. The illegal operation, near Keady had the
capacity to produce 100,000 litres of laundered fuel per week, with an
estimated annual revenue loss of around £2.25m.
HMRC officers, assisted by PSNI, searched farm buildings at Crossnenagh
Road in the Derrynoose area last night (Thursday 6 April) and uncovered
and dismantled a crude but effective fuel laundering plant. They also
recovered 13,500 litres of laundered fuel and seized pumps, compressors,
filtration and storage equipment.
In addition over 3 tonnes of toxic contaminated sludge, the hazardous
chemical residue of the laundering process, were cleared from the site.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Maggie Eyden said: "Revenue &
Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel
from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. If this operation
to illegally remove the chemical markers in duty-rebated fuel had not
been shut down, it would have meant an annual revenue loss of around
£2.25m. This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals,
not into the pockets of a few individuals.
"People need to be aware of the potential environmental damage that can
be caused by the indiscriminate dumping in our countryside of the waste
products from the laundering process. They need to consider what
happens to the waste by- product and the damage caused by contamination to
arable land, our water and rivers.
"This waste is a danger for the local community and the environment,
and is difficult and expensive to dispose of safely. This is why I would
urge members of the public if they know of any fuel misuse or
suspicious activities, please call the HMRC confidential freephone on 0800 59
5000."
In another operation last night HMRC officers seized 5,100 litres of
illegal fuel from a lorry involved in a road traffic accident on the
Killyleagh Road, Armagh. The tipper lorry had been adapted with a large
concealed tank and was attempting to evade a PSNI vehicle checkpoint when
it crashed.
A man was later arrested and subsequently bailed to re-appear at a
later date to help HMRC with their ongoing enquiries.
