Audio and video
A selection from the Seized! the Border and Customs uncovered gallery.
Seized! audio description
Listen to this six minute long guide to the highlights from the galleries
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Read a transcript of the audio guide.
Beatles gold disc
Find out how gold discs presented to The Beatles came to be in our collection, in this two minute film.
This VNR contains ITN copyright material and no re-use of any material outside of this VNR is permitted.
Read a transcript of 'Beatles gold disc'.
Churchill's cigars
This 51 second film reveals an original letter from Churchill to London Custom House, checking how much duty would be required to import 1,000 cigars from New York.
This VNR contains ITN copyright material and no re-use of any material outside of this VNR is permitted.
Read a transcript of 'Churchill's cigars'.
Lady Chatterley's Lover
A film about the outcry caused by the book when it was first published in the1920s. Length 1 minute 15 seconds.
This VNR contains ITN copyright material and no re-use of any material outside of this VNR is permitted.
Read a transcript of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'.
Historical rummage
Officers describe their early days of searching, or rummaging, ships and vehicles. They were looking for concealed goods, such as tobacco and illegal drugs. Length 5 minutes.
Read a transcript of 'Historical rummage'.
A deep rummager's tale
An officer describes modern specialist search of large scale commercial vessels to find illegal and prohibited goods. Length 4 minutes.
Read a transcript of 'A deep rummager's tale'.
Tools of the gauger
A modern animation using historical film footage of the specialist tools that Customs and Excise officers used to measure casks and weigh tobacco, in order to calculate how much tax was owed.
Length 6 minutes. This is a silent film.