Day 151 - 10 Jul 95 - Page 46


     
     1        my attention, or having to bring it to the attention of any
     2        of the managers in Clacton or Colchester.
     3
     4   Q.   Is it possible that sometimes things could escape your
     5        eagle eye while you were checking?
     6        A.  I am only human but I would like to think again that
     7        had I had a problem with it, I would have spotted it if it
     8        was such a blatant problem.
     9
    10   Q.   When you say that, is that like with Mr. Alimi, the
    11        blatancy is the regularity with which it occurred, or did
    12        not occur, whatever you say, but what I am saying is that
    13        if it happened from time to time, it may escape your
    14        attention, or no-one thought it was a problem, but if it
    15        happened on more than a certain scale, then you would
    16        expect it to come to your attention?
    17        A.  Certainly
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  When you say "I do not recall it being a
    20        problem", what you are being asked is, firstly, may it have
    21        happened from time to time, may it be that a young woman
    22        under the age of 18 worked past 10 from time to time or a
    23        young man past midnight?
    24        A.  I guess in terms of human nature that could have
    25        occurred but I do not recall there being such an ongoing
    26        problem with it.  Someone going out may have clocked out at
    27        one minute past but I do not recall that.
    28
    29   Q.   You see you use the word "problem"?
    30        A.  Sorry?
    31
    32   Q.   It creates a difficulty because I do not know whether it
    33        would be seen as a problem if it happened just once.  True
    34        it is against the law, but whether you would see it as a
    35        problem, provided you followed it up and someone said:
    36        "Yes, I have got you as only 17", or something of that
    37        kind.  What do you mean when you say "a problem"?  Do you
    38        mean it is something which is against the rules and
    39        happening often or more than once?
    40        A.  The difficulty is I am being asked to surmise if it was
    41        a problem.  I do not know if it was.  I do not think it was
    42        a problem.  I certainly do not recall there being a problem
    43        so I am guessing if there was a problem.
    44
    45   Q.   Is what you are saying this, that if it had happened to any
    46        significant extent, you think you would remember it and
    47        cannot remember it?
    48        A.  I would have remembered it.
    49
    50   Q.   And you cannot remember it? 
    51        A.  I cannot remember any such occasion such as that. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Although you are not prepared to say it never happened, you
    54        do not think it happened to any significant extent, is that
    55        it?  Do not let me lead you into it?
    56        A.  No.  I am trying to be as helpful as possible in terms
    57        of going back 8 or so years in terms of remembering. I do
    58        not remember there being a problem with underage working
    59        so, therefore, I think it is better for me to say that I do
    60        not think it was not a problem.

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