Memorabilia

Prior to to the beginning of the new department (HM Revenue & Customs) the former department HM Customs & Excise tried to engage with the public by attending trade shows and events where HMC&E could interact with interested persons to explain what its objectives were.

Apart from its tax collecting activities in the areas of Value Added Tax (VAT) and and Excise duties levied on tobacco goods, hydrocarbon oil etc, HMC&E also had the job of of preventing the illegal importation of drugs. This job was largely carried out by uniformed staff staff at airports and seaports.

The rank structure could generally be determined  by the number of gold rings an Officer wore on his jacket sleeves. Have a look at this website which illustrates this reasonably well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Customs_and_Excise 

Example of a freebie given away to "Joe Public"

Opposite side of mug giving the telephone number of the Drug Smuggling Action Line

Other Freebies