Customs and the “Rooney effect”
UK Customs rules have been brought into sharp focus today with the news that Coleen McLoughlin, fiancée of football star Wayne Rooney, has been caught importing goods worth £14,000 more than is allowed.
Newspapers and television stations alike have given the story huge prominence after the 18-year-old reportedly spent three hours with customs officials at Manchester airport after arriving with two suitcases full of designer goods.
The Daily Mail quotes a spokesman for the footballer and his fiancée as saying that McLoughlin had been questioned by customs officers and had paid a “substantial” amount of outstanding duty.
He reportedly said: “She was totally unaware that she was in breach of any regulations and co-operated fully with the customs officers in paying the duty deemed to be due on the clothes and gifts bought in America. No charges have been brought and the matter is now closed.”
There are some suggestions that McLoughlin was targeted by officers after they had been tipped off about her proposed shopping trip.
For the record, UK travellers arriving back home from outside the EU are limited to goods worth £145 in addition to standard limits on alcohol, tobacco and perfumes.
Anything in excess of that is subject to VAT at 17.5 per cent, if it is applicable, and import duty, which can vary according to what has been purchased.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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