The cost of a good turnout
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DON'T LOOK NOW, but something has come down. The charge made by the Customs Task Force for turning out a container selected at random for search has, by and large, been reduced It had been set at £22 per revenue ton, with a minimum of £110 per container, which meant that the importer might be faced with a bill for £400. The British Shippers' Council complained long and loud, and as a result the fee has been changed to a flat £110 for a 20ft box and £165 for a 40ft unit.
The Custons authorities seek to justify the charge on the ground that the public interest requires the import of contraband to be prevented. Surely, then, the public, and not the individual, should pay. If Customs' argument is carried to its' logical conclusion, the police are entitled to charge for turning over people's homes to look for stolen property, with a special rate for raids after midnight.