Anti Terror Laws to be used against publicans.

From the Morning Advertiser comes a tale of using a sledgehammer to crack a peanut. New Labour the nanny state, database obsessed government has passed anti-terror laws on money laundering and by God they are going to use them.

Not against drug dealers, Jamacian yardie gangs or anything petty like that. Not even Russian mafia types, after all they are all laundering their criminal empire money sorry investing in Britain by buying up football clubs and entertaining Peter Mandelson. 

No they will however ensure that no one is watching the foot ball match on a foreign satellite. Well fuck me with a bargepole I can sleep safe at night now.

So the same block of laws that were used against Iceland, can be used against the latest enemy of Rupert Murdock's footie showing empire SKY SPORTS. Which has a damn near monopoly on football matches here in the UK - at least all the big name games go on SKY.

Anti-money laundering laws will be used to pursue foreign satellite suppliers that let pubs show football, under new plans.

That’s according to a new chief at the agency that probes the screenings in pubs. Retired policeman David Eyles also revealed that prosecutions are currently being brought against up to 30 licensees for screening games via foreign satellites.

Eyles, operations director at Media Protection Services (MPS), was the director of operations at the Metropolitan Police Clubs and Vice Unit until December. He co-ordinated crackdowns on drugs and guns in licensed premises, and on unlicensed doorstaff.

Here we go:

Eyles said the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 will be used to trace and seize assets from foreign satellite suppliers, if licensee Karen Murphy loses her case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Murphy’s appeal against her conviction for foreign satellite screenings was referred to the ECJ last July — no date is set for the hearing.

To use the 2002 Act, it must be shown that income from suppliers was generated by criminal activity.

So if you don't have SKY, then you will be treated as a criminal? But get the line below. He describes it as a growth industry, well maybe that is what HM Govt ministers meant when talking about green shoots of recovery.

Has he not thought that were the costs on running a pub so bloody high, the charges for SKY broadcasting so high that when offered a cheaper alternative some landlords decide to take El-Cheapo chipped box Ltd instead of SKY?

He does point out that as he puts it licensees are having in the economic downturn, but not to worry we will use money laundering laws against them anyway. After all rules is rules, Guv'.

Eyles said foreign satellite football is a “growth industry”.

“There are two elements: those people buying cards and using them, and behind that the organised groups making huge sums of money. They are exploiting the problems licensees are having in the economic downturn.”

He said the process of prosecuting licensees is “on-going”, with case papers being brought against around 30 hosts for using non-EU cards to screen games last football season.

The Premier League said last November it was “pointless” bringing new foreign satellite prosecutions until after the Murphy hearing, although MPS said investigations of pubs would continue in the meantime.

An empty soundbite as that would be the same Premier League that is hand in glove with SKY and who get a percentage rake off from SKY, a monopoly on putting football matches out. Not that I will make any comment about certain dubious East Europeans buying clubs or dubious Australians controlling much of our media.

MPS boss Ray Hoskin said there were plans to recruit others with “similar background” to Eyles.

Hoskin said: “We welcome David’s participation and he brings a wealth of experience.
“The level of successful prosecutions is increasing on a weekly basis and those conducting an honest trade will benefit accordingly. Much of the ‘spin’ emanating from dealers in the pirate cards is entirely false and recent legislation covering false and misleading advertising will also be brought to bear. We would welcome any examples of such circulars, flyers etc. received from such dealers, to support future action.”

Well so much for anti terror laws being used against real criminals. Criminal it may be but Al-Quada it is not. Still Labour pass the laws and they will use them. No matter how small the crime may be...

I do wonder if a certain Australian has been having a moan to friends in Labour about not having the revenues of every pub football match coming into his coffers.

How long before we see a sign on the Dog & Duck saying that the pub has been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 - I refer you to section 45 of the act:

45 Seizure

(1)If a restraint order is in force a constable or a customs officer may seize any realisable property to which it applies to prevent its removal from England and Wales.

(2)Property seized under subsection (1) must be dealt with in accordance with the directions of the court which made the order.

How long, O Cyclops, will you abuse our patience? How long is that madness of yours still to mock us? When is there to be an end of that unbridled audacity of yours?

Labour & their champagne swilling backers all part of a nomenklatura supporting a leader out of touch with reality.

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