History
After a link of over 300 years with Britain, Gibraltar has inherited the British way of life, with many local institutions modelling themselves on UK lines. This link has inevitably extended to the civil service and certainly to Customs.
The first recorded appointment of an Officer of Customs dates back to 14th May 1750, when the then Governor Lt General Humphrey Bland (1749-1754), ordered certain appointments. An extract from the original manuscript reads as follows:
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Civil Officers appointed by Lieut Genl' Bland for the management of His Majesty's Revenue at Gibraltar.
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Salary per Annum
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George Burges Esq Secretary, by His Majesty's Commission Salary per Annum to the Governor &Garrison of Gibraltar, appointed Chief Inspector of the said Revenues and Cashiers
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£ UNSPECIFIED
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Richard Dacres, Collector & Receiver of Duties
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£ 100
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John Cruchet Inspector of Wines and Rum, Imported by the Merchants & of that Retailed in the Licensed Public Houses
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£ 100
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It was during this period, that wines and spirits imported from places such as the Caribbean and the Spanish mainland, were selling cheaper and in greater numbers than those distilled in the British Isles. In order to discourage this and the excessive drunkenness of military personnel in the garrison at the time, the Governor on 18th April 1750, announced a series of measures which established the collecting of duties on all spirits, liquors and wines imported into Gibraltar other than from the British Isles. This was as follows:
That a duty of ten guineas a butt of one hundred and seventeen Spanish gallons be paid on all red and white wines which shall be received by any Sutler the said duty to be paid by the Sutler on his receiving the wines to such person as the Governor shall appoint to collect the same.
