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Chamonix police deny UK ski clampdown | Chamonix police deny UK ski clampdown |
(6 days later) | |
A British man who runs a ski company in the Alps has claimed French police are clamping down on UK instructors to keep jobs for locals. | A British man who runs a ski company in the Alps has claimed French police are clamping down on UK instructors to keep jobs for locals. |
Simon Butler said he may close his business following the "absolutely unbelievable" arrest of his instructor Alex Casey, 40, from Ascot, Berkshire. | Simon Butler said he may close his business following the "absolutely unbelievable" arrest of his instructor Alex Casey, 40, from Ascot, Berkshire. |
Mr Casey was arrested at Megeve ski station on Tuesday for not having the correct qualifications. | Mr Casey was arrested at Megeve ski station on Tuesday for not having the correct qualifications. |
A Chamonix police spokesman denied there was a clampdown. | A Chamonix police spokesman denied there was a clampdown. |
Mr Casey, who grew up in Folkestone, Kent, was questioned because he lacks the top-level Eurotest qualification, which can only be earned after completing a challenging slalom run. | Mr Casey, who grew up in Folkestone, Kent, was questioned because he lacks the top-level Eurotest qualification, which can only be earned after completing a challenging slalom run. |
While instructors can work for the national agency L'Ecole du Ski Francais without this award, those employed by independent companies are required to have it. | While instructors can work for the national agency L'Ecole du Ski Francais without this award, those employed by independent companies are required to have it. |
Mr Casey, who has worked in the resort for 12 years and could now face a three-month prison term, insists he has several other "internationally-recognised qualifications". | Mr Casey, who has worked in the resort for 12 years and could now face a three-month prison term, insists he has several other "internationally-recognised qualifications". |
'Shutting up shop' | 'Shutting up shop' |
He said he was "one of the best instructors on this mountain". | He said he was "one of the best instructors on this mountain". |
Mr Butler is appealing against his own three-month suspended sentence for employing instructors without licences. | Mr Butler is appealing against his own three-month suspended sentence for employing instructors without licences. |
The 50-year-old has run his company from Megeve, in the Haute-Savoie region, for more than 30 years. | The 50-year-old has run his company from Megeve, in the Haute-Savoie region, for more than 30 years. |
He said: "It was peaceful until last summer and now they're after all of us. | He said: "It was peaceful until last summer and now they're after all of us. |
"It's totally put me off doing business in France. We are thinking about shutting up shop and moving back. | "It's totally put me off doing business in France. We are thinking about shutting up shop and moving back. |
"Can you imagine telling French people they can't work in England?" | "Can you imagine telling French people they can't work in England?" |
Mr Casey and Mr Butler are due to appear before local magistrates on 13 June. | Mr Casey and Mr Butler are due to appear before local magistrates on 13 June. |
The Foreign Office said it was offering consular assistance. | The Foreign Office said it was offering consular assistance. |
A spokesperson for Chamonix police, which patrols the skiing valleys, said: "It is absolutely not a clampdown on foreign ski instructors as has been reported in some parts of the English media." | A spokesperson for Chamonix police, which patrols the skiing valleys, said: "It is absolutely not a clampdown on foreign ski instructors as has been reported in some parts of the English media." |
The Eurotest was agreed by 10 countries in March 2000 but some ski instructors have continued to teach without it. | |
The Chamonix police spokesman said Mr Casey was told to stop instructing 10 years ago. | The Chamonix police spokesman said Mr Casey was told to stop instructing 10 years ago. |
Dave Renouf, corporate affairs manager at the British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI), said: "In France, snowsports teaching is a regulated profession by the government. | |
"As the UK body responsible for the training and grading of snowsport instructors, BASI has an internationally recognised teaching system with four levels, the highest being BASI Level 4 [which] is recognised in France as the required level which instructors must obtain to teach skiing professionally in a French ski resort. | |
"One of the many modules required to reach [this level] also involves successful participation in a Eurotest. | |
"BASI instructors qualified to level 2 or 3 are able to work within a government recognised ski school having first successfully completed a compensation test. This checks their technical competence and is a test which all French nationals have to pass before being able to start an instructor apprenticeship." |
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