The Change Press
Publishing books on organisational, social and political change
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Welcome to The Change Press, where we are dedicated to publishing thought-provoking books that inspire positive and meaningful change. Our books delve into topics such as organisational transformation, social justice, and political reform, offering a fresh perspective on pressing issues in today's world.
New Release
Igniting Conversations
The Change Press is excited to present our first release, 'Gino's Contraband: Guilty Until Proven Innocent.' ​​
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Release Date - 1 January 2025​
IASIN - B0DK1J2VDN
Full Title - Gino's Contraband: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Author - Gabrielle O'Donovan
Publisher - The Change Press
Dimensions - 9 x 6
Genre - Memoir
Key words - Crime, human rights, justice
Formats - Hardback, e-Book
Audible and paperback to follow
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About this book
Gabrielle O’Donovan is a self-starter and has built a career as a change management professional. When UK Border Police at Heathrow seize 270,000 cigarettes destined for a certain Gino at Miki National Co. Ltd., Gabrielle receives related correspondence which looks like a scam. In time, Gabrielle learns that the UK tax authority - His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - has decided she was the intended recipient.
As Gabrielle is pursued, HMRC treats her as guilty until she can prove her innocence. Why are her Human Rights not being respected? As the case takes its toll on her, Gabrielle is advised that it is very difficult to 'prove a negative' (that she is not Gino) in a court of law. To compound matters, when her best friend confides that she is a victim of the HMRC Loan Charge Scandal and is being subjected to similar tactics, Gabrielle finds herself on suicide watch.
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Gino’s Contraband is Gabrielle’s candid, eye-opening and often shocking account of the challenges of distinguishing scams from the legitimate, the impact of being wrongly accused by HMRC, the harm caused by sinister tactics employed by HMRC to invoke shame and guilt, and the psychological effect of being forced to prove her innocence in a supposedly democratic country. In her insightful book, Gabrielle also reveals how the contentious Loan Charge legislation informed how she too was treated, the industrial scale damage being caused by HMRC on society, and what - together - these and other 'guilty until proven innocent' cases say about the state of democracy in the UK.
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Gino's Contraband highlights the urgent need for a Taxpayers' Bill of Rights to ensure fair treatment.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy and it was riveting reading and I can only imagine the toll the whole experience must have had on your mental health and life in general. HMRC are at best an incompetent behemoth.
Captain Cape_aka HMRC prisoner, www.x.com 5/11/24
Reviews
Written with sincerity and balance, Gabrielle exposes how a toxic culture at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is conspiring against the vulnerable and harming the welfare of a great many individuals, highlighting the plight of the many who feel alone and are suffering in silence. In this gripping account, Gabrielle lays bare why only a UK Taxpayer Bill of Rights will set the right tone at state level and lead to much-needed culture change at HMRC. A must-read for any UK taxpayer.
STEVE PACKHAM, LOAN CHARGE ACTION GROUP (LCAG)
20/11/2025
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About Us
The Change Press is dedicated to amplifying voices and ideas that drive progress and change. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals and communities to challenge the status quo and work towards a more just and equitable world.
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Director Gabrielle O'Donovan is a long established published author and her work in the organisational change space has won multiple awards. With her memoir 'Gino's Contraband: Guilty Until Proven Innocent' (2025) Gabrielle has matured into a social activist, using the power of words to drive justice and political change.