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		Booze cruises: customs officers still being heavy-handed Thursday, 6th July 2006 Despite government assurances, innocent people are still having goods seized Brussels - Innocent cross-channel shoppers are still having their goods unjustly seized by British Customs officials, despite a pledge from the UK government that their zero-tolerance approach had ended, says Roger Helmer, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands. He was speaking today after the European Commission formally announced it was calling off its legal action. Mr Helmer has been in contact with several constituents from the region who have had their goods seized over the past few weeks - even though their purchases were within the UK's guidelines. It appears that Customs officers are still confiscating tobacco and cars from innocent cross-channel shoppers simply because they do not have a lighter or empty packet on their person. People have also complained about the heavy-handed attitude of Customs officials and their assumptions that the consumer was always guilty unless they could categorically prove their innocence. As recently as June 25th, a Leicestershire constituent, who has asked to retain his anonymity, had his car confiscated after a weekend trip to Bruges and was subjected to ‘intimidating and heavy handed’ behaviour. Speaking today Mr Helmer said: "The European Commission dropped the legal action against the UK because they were told Customs officers had mended their ways. Clearly this is still not the case”. "Cross-channel shoppers are being presumed guilty until they can prove their innocence. Law-abiding people are being treated like criminals just for exercising their single market rights. "We need to shift the burden of proof onto the Customs officers. They should not be allowed to seize any goods, and especially vehicles, unless they have concrete evidence that the goods are intended for resale. "Genuine smuggling, which is used to fund organised crime, is a growing concern yet our Customs officers seem to be preoccupied with penalising innocent people buying cigarettes for their own use."