SMUGGLING
BY JOHN CHRISTIAN T PANGAN
History
Smuggling started in the reign of Edward I (late 13th century)
when a Customs duty was placed on the export of wool, which was in
great demand in Europe. The initial duties were small, but as the
Hundred Years War progressed in the 14th century, so the tax increased
in order to fund troops and further fighting.
Initially the Customs Service existed only to collect the duties at
the ports, and not to prevent smuggling. However, during the 17th and
18th centuries illegal trade increased. From the previously small-scale
evasion of duties, smuggling had now developed into an industry. It has
been suggested that at times more illicit spirits were being smuggled
into the country, than entered legally into London Docks.
In 1614
wool was the export
known as of wool
owling was the
(after made illegal.
owl-like Smuggling
noises made of
by
the smugglers
illegal export oftowool
communicate
was made with each other).
punishable In 1661 the
by death.
Smugglers
were faced therefore
with began arming
armedIIprevention themselves.
in Board
the form In turn
of the they
British
Army.
officialIn 1671
body Charles
responsible created
for the the
collection of
of Customs
Customs - an
duties.
In the 1680s
cutters Revenue
to enable themOfficers were
to patrol provided
the coast with customs
to catch smugglers.
In the 18th century 'Customs' was not the only taxation on
goods. Excise was a type of tax on domestic consumption.
During the years of the Civil War, it covered many different
items. But it was reduced ten years later to cover just
chocolate, coffee, tea, beer and spirits. However, it was an
effective way of raising tax revenue, so successive
governments re-introduced and repealed Excise duty on
various items including essentials such as salt, leather and
soap. The difference between these two taxes was of little
interest to the people, who cared only that what they bought
was becoming increasingly expensive.
In the 18th century extraordinary quantities of goods were
smuggled into Britain. In some areas whole communities were
dependant on smuggling. Many communities in the late 1700s (such as
the Scilly Isles), were in league with the smugglers who could provide
contraband goods (like tea or tobacco) which they could not otherwise
afford.
The hey-day of smuggling was during the wars against France
and Napoleon. It has been said that the last skirmish when shots were
fired was on Romney Marsh in 1821.
Smuggling continued throughout the early 19th century, but
declined after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 when the
preventive effort was stepped up with the introduction of coastal
blockades, blockade men and Coastguard. By the late 1820s the
effectiveness of the two forces was apparent. In 1831 the Coastguard
Service became responsible for the entire coastline and ultimately
becoming the preventive force. The Coastguard drove smuggling
underground, but economics finally ended the smuggling era. Britain
adopted a free-trade policy in the 1840s reducing import duties
significantly, so made smuggling no longer a viable occupation.
