Black market permits
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SUSPENDED prison sentences and fines of E1000 were imposed on two partners in a haulage business this week after they admitted at Wakefield Crown Court conspiracy to forge international journey permits. The printer of the permits was fined MOO.
Michael Fox trading as Fox Lubricants of Thames Wharf, Wakefield, and Jim Barras, manager of Calder Transport (Wakefield) Ltd of the same address each pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to forge permits and one charge of conspiring to utter forged documents.
When the Thames Wharf premises were raided a wallet was found in a Volvo tractive unit which contained one genuine and three forged permits. Completed journey records showed that the vehicle had operated with false permits. In a Transit van there were 39 forged permits, 132 forged journey record sheets, and all the equipment necessary to stamp the false permits. A further two false permits and eight false journey sheets were found in the office.
A subsequent raid revealed printers' plates for the forgeries and a number of further false permits. When interviewed, Mr Fox said that he either had to operate illegally or go out of business.
For Fox and Barras, Paul Isaacs said demand for permits far exceeded supply, and so invited corruption. Fox and Barras received eight French permits each in 1976 and 1977 despite asking for more.
They were also aware that for ten francs the Customs would not stamp a permit thus allowing it to be used again. It was this situation that led them to dishonesty.
Both Fox and Barras were given nine months sentence suspended for two years and fined £500 each. Fox and Barras were given six months in which to pay or face a six months' prison sentence.