Confiscated by Customs - advice please

[caesar]

A package of DVDs from the US has been seized by Customs as they reckon 3 were obscene depicting 'physical abuse and degrading behaviour'. They have said nothing about the others but have seized the lot.

Can I get them to release the others or should I just let them keep them all?

Is it worth contacting them or will this just make trouble for me?

Any advice please!!

[Matt]

Contacting Customs shouldn't cause you any trouble other then cost of time and energy. If it were me, I would request the release of your other material, and consider if they are justified in keeping what they want to. It may be that they are, in which case you're probably best of not watching them in the first place (or you could try re-ordering if you took out insurance)...

One or two folk here have some experience in taking on Customs, I'm sure they can advise further...

[richy]

Customs are a complete law unto themselves, and by and large do exactly as they please so unless anyone can offer a way round this for you, I would be inclined to put it down to experience. A pisser I know, but this is Britian in the 21st Century, remember!
It's hugely ironic that if you had bought the videos in mainland Europe:
1. Nobody would have batted an eyelid
2. You could have driven back from the ferry through customs without being bothered by them as they are not legally allowed to stop you unless they have prior information ( a tip-off, to you and me).
There is supposed to be free movement of people and goods within member states of the EU, so if you had bought these tapes in the EU, you might like to argue with them. As it is, I'm afraid they've won this time (for the moment!)

[caesar]

Thanks for the replies - so you dont think its even worth trying to get any released as Matt is suggesting?

[jj]

I don't think it would do you any harm to remind them that they are holding items in that consignment which they themselves have deemed not to be in contravention of Customs regulations, and politely request their release.
I'm a bit surprised at this, as not much US stuff gets stopped, their rules being broadly similar to ours: did the stuff include m/f pissing, as that can get done?. Or can you give titles?
The contravening stuff is, alas, doomed to end up in some HM Thieves lad's collection. Perhaps one of them could off-load his surplus by posting here........

[caesar]

They took exception to The Humiliation of Heidi, Traffickers and Submission of a Stripper, all depicting sado-masochistic activity.

They even viewed the trailers, they do take their job very seriously!!

[jj]

A sense of humour/proportion is NOT on the core skills agenda for a Customs officer.
Good luck with the return of the others.

[magoo]

Unfortunately if any part of a consignment is considered obscene they can and do seize the whole lot. There is a tip about this somewhere on melonfarmers.co.uk

The good news is that they do sometimes release the other non obscene items if you hassle them and if they are feeling generous.

[joe king]

what about - I work for the bbfc and am reviewing the said articles (you barstards) as my position as examiner. The items are in the process of being edited for a certified release and need to be examined by (insert name).

[jj sad about Spike]

Power without responsibility: the hallmark of the tyrant throughout the ages.