| 1643 |
Excise Bill first introduced. |
| 1671 |
Board of Customs set up. |
| 1698 |
Corps of Riding Officers instituted, with
299 being employed. |
| 1719 |
“Hovering” within six miles
of the coast deemed to be illegal. |
| 1721 |
Those caught smuggling within 20 miles
of the coast, in gangs of over 5 members, carrying weapons, wearing
masks, or forcibly resisting arrest or seizure of goods risked a sentence
of 7 years transportation to the American colonies. This inspired
gangs to increase violence to avoid capture. 250 customs men were
wounded and 6 killed in 10 years. |
| 1733 |
Walpole’s Excise Bill was opposed
because merchants disliked the idea of Revenue Men being able to search
shops and warehouses at will. |
| 1736 |
Act of indemnity for smugglers. A
free pardon was offered for all past smuggling offences if the felon
was prepared to pass on information. This proved to be ineffective
because the smugglers feared retribution from their comrades.
The death sentence could now be passed for the use of firearms
against an officer, with transportation, flogging, hard labour,
or naval service for unarmed resistance. This also proved to be
ineffective owing to a warrant being required before an arrest could
be made. Many smugglers simply dumped goods and ran away because
the punishment for smuggling, if no resistance was given, was merely
a fine of 3 times the value of the goods. |
| 1746 |
Duke of Richmond’s Act.
1) The death penalty was the sole punishment for gangs assembling
to run contraband.
2) Any wanted smuggler was judged guilty if he failed to surrender
within 40 days of his name appearing in the London Gazette.
3) The death penalty could be passed for harbouring a smuggler.
4) Fines could be levied on communities if a violent offence was committed
and no conviction was made within 6 months.
5) A new system of pardons was instituted for informers.
This act also had little beneficial effect. |
| 1775 |
The American War of Independence drained
vast numbers of soldiers and seamen from England, making it easier
for free traders to go about their business. Many smugglers were freed
from gaol after agreeing to become enlisted, but some got themselves
discharged and went back to their trade. |
| 1778 |
Pardons were offered to smugglers who
agreed to enter the navy or found two substitutes to serve for them. |
| 1815 |
The Royal Navy was linked to Revenue forces. |
| 1816 |
The Royal Navy begin a blockade of the
Channel, seizing 875 ships in a year. |
| 1831 |
Formation of the Coastguard Service. |
