MALCOLM NELSON
Malcolm Nelson worked for 40 years for HM Customs, most of that
time catching smugglers at Heathrow Airport in London. Since
retirement in 2005 he has developed a series of talks. The groups he
talks to vary from Womens Institutes to after dinner talks for Rugby
Clubs and Wine Tasting Circles. He also "lectures" on board cruise
ships
SAMPLE LIST OF TALKS
(Note this is only a sample of available talks)
An Introduction to HM Customs
Outlining a very brief history of Customs from the 8th Century to
the present day. Then explaining the organisation and strategies
used by HM Customs to maximise the effect of their limited
resources. This is taken down to a very basic level and includes
many of my own experiences both as a working officer and as a senior
manager of officers.
Class A drugs. How and where do we find them
An insight into just why an officer decides to stop a particular
person. Having stopped them what might make them decide to go on and
search them and their baggage. If they do search the baggage where
are they likely to find drugs. Using many of my own experiences to
highlight the bizarre incidents that arise in this role.
Revenue Goods: How and where do we find them
Particular stress being put on the questioning that will indicate
a possible offence. What revenue goods are we interested in ,
jewellery, watches, fur coats etc. Instances of revenue seizures I
have made and again the strange circumstances that often accompany
them.
Drugs Case Study
Taking a famous drugs offence from it’s first interception in the
Green channel through to the verdict in the Crown Court at
Isleworth. The case involved two offenders. One with 300 packages of
cocaine concealed internally. The other, the minder, with
nothing but a piece of a blue balloon in his pocket. The audience
are invited to come to a verdict and a sentence.
Slide Show and Open Forum
The first part is a slide show showing many drug concealments and
giving the story behind them. The second part is an open forum. I do
this because I find that I am asked many questions outside of my
talks, in the bar etc, and it is an opportunity to bring these
questions to the whole of the audience.
The History of Smuggling
This talk/lecture takes us from 742 when King Ethelbald of
Mercia introduced the first form of taxes through to the 10th
century when Athelred introduced the first import duties at
Billingsgate and we have evidence of the first smuggler. Then on to
the first organised smuggling which was exports of wool and further
on to the massive smuggling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The various draconian Acts of Parliament and the social and economic
reasons behind the smuggling epidemic.
Famous/infamous smugglers of the past and present
This talk takes a look at famous smugglers of the past and
present. It tries to separate the fact from the fiction and brings
up names that are still famous today in certain areas. Each one is
unique in their own way and they vary from the barbaric to the
romantic.
Smuggling Gangs of the 18th and 19th century
Gangs as large as 500 men dominated large parts of the
countryside especially in the South East. They are possibly the
first example of organised crime. They provided solicitors for those
who were caught, doctors for those who were wounded, and paid
families silence money when their menfolk were incarcerated. They
also collected protection money and perpetrated horrendous murder on
those who stood in their way. This talk concentrates on two of these
crimes as they are now seen as the catalyst for the change in
public opinion against the smuggler.