A recent circular from the Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs ( CBIC ) has issued guidelines relating to the boarding of vessels by Customs Officers which has decided to improve the transparency of boarding functions by the officers with the help of boarding jackets fitted with body-worn cameras ( BWC ) which have audio and video recording facilities.
The officers of Nhava Sheva and Ahmedabad Customs Zones had implemented, this facility while carrying out duties on board the vessels since August 2022. Based on the feedback received from these Zones, the Board has now decided to extend the use of this facility from 15.04.2023 with respect to the sea customs functions.
This will improve transparency & ease of doing business, present more professionally the role of the Boarding Officer, keep scope for upfront evidence in case of an offence or likely offence, and will also enhance the protection of interest of the Customs Officer against frivolous complaints.
In addition, the Boarding Officer shall ensure that the BWC is activated on approaching the gangway, and shall make the stakeholder/people around him/her aware that they are being recorded. The recording shall be continued uninterrupted, until the officer de-boards the Vessel, and reaches back at the end of the gangway.
To ease the inconvenience caused to stakeholders, the Boarding Officer in advance shall inform the Shipping Agent he shall inform the Master of the Vessel for the smooth completion of Boarding functions.
It is also directed that the BWC used by the Boarding Officer shall be a stand-alone device without Wi-Fi or SIM functionality. It is also mandatory that if more than one Boarding Officer can be deputed for Boarding functions then all Boarding Officers shall wear a jacket fitted with BWC.
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