“There is evidence of criminal activity taking place in multiple freeports around the world. It often involves trade in counterfeit goods, drug trafficking, smuggling of untaxed goods or trade-based money laundering.” #Freeports#r4today#BBCBreakfast
In 2020, the Royal United Services Institute centre for financial crime and security studies submitted evidence to the international trade committee.
Amongst recommendations on mitigating risk in the UK, are increased security, crime pattern analysis and intelligence gathering.
In 2021, the EU clamped down on freeport activity for the very reason that they were found to facilitate illegal activities such as money laundering, art theft and terrorism.
Freeports and nature some thoughts.
Freeports aren't ports they are large areas of land including in some cases SSI's and National Parks. Some board members of Freeports and directors are local councillors. #Freeports#Nature#Deregulation#RSPB#Wildlife
Significant areas of natural beauty including Dartmoor, the New Forest, the whole of the Isle of Wight and the North York Moors. They also engulf entire cities such as Derby and Nottingham, Hull, Scunthorpe, and large areas of Liverpool.
The new freeports between them cover around 15,000 to 20,000kms2 – approximately 8% of England’s total surface area.
National park authorities were not consulted before being included in the outer boundary of the new freeports. Changes in planning regulations will affect them.