A group of European MEPs have taken up the case of 10 UK citizens who have complained that they had their ‘duty free goods’ confiscated by UK Customs officials when entering British sea ports.

The MEPs have championed the cases to the European Parliament complaining that UK Customs has been too heavy handed by seizing vehicles, cigarettes and alcohol at British ports on the grounds that travellers were importing the goods for onward sale in the UK domestic market.

This is not the first time that such complaints have been taken to such a high level. The European Commission successfully took the UK to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2004 for the same thing.

The cases are being seen as another test for British Customs, which maintains that it has the right to confiscate goods where travellers cannot prove they are for their own personal use. But this policy has angered many, since it works on a principle that is contrary to the spirit of British law that a traveller is guilty until ‘proving themselves innocent’.

MEP John Purvis told a parliamentary committee: ‘The British government is like a convicted burglar refusing to return the swag. It also continues to operate a policy of border control, leading to a threatening and intimidating situation for travellers.’

Purvis was supported by committee Chairman Marcin Libicki who added that the ‘the Commission is not exerting sufficient pressure’ on the UK. He said the European Court of Justice would be informed of the situation in an effort to pressure the UK into changing its policy and compensating the ‘victims’.