The Hoverspeed saga

Gavin McFarlane, Temple Chambers Cardiff

There are no apologies for concentrating on the Hoverspeed situation again. The issues it raises are of wider concern to the general British public than is usual when fraud is alleged – who, at some time, hasn’t wondered about their position with respect to bringing alcohol and tobacco back into the UK from other EU member states? Aspects of Customs and Excise law have also been judicially scrutinised as never before; some of these affect much wider principles of laws relating to fraud. And there have been significant developments since last month’s report.