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		Backing for UK’s duty free victims Monday, 16th April 2007 Labour told to compensate Britain's duty free victims by European Parliament Eight British citizens who were victims of the arbitrary seizure of their vehicles, cigarettes and alcohol at British ports by customs officials who claimed they were smugglers have got the backing of the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament in their claim for compensation. East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer, who is a member of the Petitions Committee and who attended the Committee’s meeting this week has frequently been contacted by his constituents in the East Midlands who have suffered disgraceful and unjust penalties and confiscations while seeking to exercise their rights in the EU's Single Market to buy tobacco and alcoholic drinks across the Channel. At the meeting, despite petitions being heard from eight UK citizens who have been unfairly penalised by HM Customs & Excise for bringing back goods into the UK, the Commission asserted that the British government was now planning to comply with EU regulations. However, British Conservative MEPs, including Mr Helmer, rejected the complacency of the Commission and said that HM Customs were still harassing travellers with tobacco and alcohol products purchased in the EU, and that no attempt had been made so far to provide redress for those who had suffered unfair penalties, including confiscation of their cars. The committee called on the Commission to put more pressure on Tony Blair and the British Government to comply with EU regulations on bringing tobacco and alcohol into the UK and stated that UK Customs and Excise were continuing to act outside the law when confiscating cars and goods. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Helmer said: "I am very pleased that in the face of complacency from both the British Government and the European Commission, we can use the Petitions Committee in the parliament to seek redress for East Midlands constituents who have been unjustly penalised by HM Customers and Excise."