FIVE ARRESTED IN HARTLEPOOL investigation into £78 million landfill tax fraud

[seaton]

After looking through the news reports in the Mail over the last few years, I am on the side that says the Mail is funded by Hartlepool Council so the mail won't run bad story's  about anything that may scupper their income and this story no doubt over time will include prominent council staff and councillors.

'Include prominent council staff and councillors,'you mean there's been a bit of skullduggery going on ?

[marky]

Bit of a pointed picture on the front page. Still, it looks like this might be one photo-opportunity that could end up biting him on the ar**.

[fred c]

After looking through the news reports in the Mail over the last few years, I am on the side that says the Mail is funded by Hartlepool Council so the mail won't run bad story's  about anything that may scupper their income and this story no doubt over time will include prominent council staff and councillors.

The Mail gets around £40,000 to £45,000 a year from HBC & has done for a long time.... is it any wonder the Editorial policy is that of a Mushroom... at one point Calamity Chris & Lying Ste appeared to have upset Joy, she gave them a bit of stick for a few weeks & then reverted to the Mushroom policy.

[The Great Dictator]

13 years ago the Council were paying the Mail £3000 a week.

[mk1]

The Mail coverage will be the bare minimum.  Joy knows which side of her sponsorship is buttered...........

This from Jan 2013

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/bursting-with-pride-1-5335877

The whole article seems nothing more than a puff for Niramax




Leading waste management company Niramax is delighted to be backing the awards for the third year running.

Sales and marketing manager Gemma Borthwick said: "As a Hartlepool company through and through, Niramax has had no hesitation in taking on the role of main sponsor.

"The awards have proved tremendously effective in turning the spotlight on individuals who represent the very best of our town.

"We are delighted to continue our sponsorship and play our part in bringing recognition to another group of local heroes in 2013.

"The launch of the Pride of Hartlepool Awards in 2011 happily coincided with a series of major developments within the Niramax Group.

"Multi-million pound investments in sophisticated new waste processing technology, a cutting edge plant for converting waste into fuel and extending our waste collection and transport infrastructure into the Tyne and Wear area consolidated our position as a regional leader in waste re-use and recovery.

"Moreover, we extended our workforce to around 120 employees and laid the foundations for continuing development through 2012 into the future.

"We are proud to be associated with people whose pride in their town is an inspiration to us all."

Anyone know the age of Gemma Borthwick.........

[Land Phil]

How long before HBC reviews it's relationship with Niramax ?
Will it be another head in the sand like MRA ?

[Balotelli]

Now that all the mock surprise is out of the way a few points:

This goes much further than fraud and money laundering and has a massive impact.

The close relationship between Niramax/Seneca and HBC - Including individual councillors in key roles.

The close relationship with the Hartlepool Mail.

Hartlepool United sponsorship.

West Hartlepool RUFC sponsorship (New clubhouse funding too).

All of the various Seneca housing developments around town in recent times, including King Oswy Drive (Liberty Park).

The finance of various other developments, including King Oswy Pub (Stinks of laundering does that).

The rumours that have been abounding for years about various items of contraband moving in and out of the Niramax sites.

The various planning consents granted on the Niramax sites, against the wishes of local residents.

The turbines.

The solar farms.

Most importantly, if the whole house of cards comes down, the hundreds of jobs that the innocent workers of Niramax will lose.  The big players won't suffer financially.

I suspect that the shredders are whirring away in some quarters and a couple of people will be applying magnets to their hard drives, however too little, too late.

The HMRC are very good at following a paper trail and the thing with laundering is that it only really works with small amounts of money flushed through numerous small value chains of transactions.

Once you get over a certain value, the amount of money involved becomes too big to be realistically credible and it attracts attention.  Managing large sums requires organisation, help and all of this creates a paper trail easily followed.

[Alnwickist]

The timing really could not of been better. Arrogance is a failing that is running through HBC councillors.Be interesting to see which ones are first to be taken in for questioning.

ELECTION TIME IS COMING EARLY ME THINKS.!!!!!!!

Wonder if SAB will be transfering money into the charity A/C asap.

[Alnwickist]

Just a side point , Mr Antropiks ex- wife is Head of committals for the CPS in Boro.

[steveL]

[The Great Dictator]

Why are the police advertising their raids, why not get a prosecution first.

[Alnwickist]

Now that all the mock surprise is out of the way a few points:
This goes much further than fraud and money laundering and has a massive impact.
The close relationship between Niramax/Seneca and HBC - Including individual councillors in key roles.
The close relationship with the Hartlepool Mail.
Hartlepool United sponsorship.
West Hartlepool RUFC sponsorship (New clubhouse funding too).
All of the various Seneca housing developments around town in recent times, including King Oswy Drive (Liberty Park).
The finance of various other developments, including King Oswy Pub (Stinks of laundering does that).
The rumours that have been abounding for years about various items of contraband moving in and out of the Niramax sites.
The various planning consents granted on the Niramax sites, against the wishes of local residents.
The turbines.
The solar farms.
Most importantly, if the whole house of cards comes down, the hundreds of jobs that the innocent workers of Niramax will lose.  The big players won't suffer financially.
I suspect that the shredders are whirring away in some quarters and a couple of people will be applying magnets to their hard drives, however too little, too late.
The HMRC are very good at following a paper trail and the thing with laundering is that it only really works with small amounts of money flushed through numerous small value chains of transactions.
Once you get over a certain value, the amount of money involved becomes too big to be realistically credible and it attracts attention.  Managing large sums requires organisation, help and all of this creates a paper trail easily followed.

[fred c]

It has been mentioned on these forums on numerous occasions.........

There are Councillors & Officers of HBC who have to say the least, been unwise in their choice of business aquaintances.

Should they for instance accept substantial charity donations from any business that has financial connections to the council, or would that be considered by senior HBC management, to be unproffesional ?

[Alnwickist]

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/crime/250-000-in-cash-seized-in-landfill-tax-fraud-probe-1-7478666

[the_exile]

does it say how many brown manila envelopes were discovered in the stationery cupboard???