"Last year alone approximately 450 million litres of alcohol was shipped to the EU duty unpaid from the UK", said Mr Leggett, who is deputy director of alcohol strategy and tax for the government department.

BBC: Calling time on alcohol smuggling and drinks duty fraud

Off-duty staff in Exeter have been working unpaid to highlight the need for qualified responders.

BBC: Exeter NHS Direct staff in 'work-in' protest

When asked why they took on this largely unpaid work, 80% insisted it was out of a sense of public duty.

ECONOMIST: Who��s really who | The