If it's brown, got feathers, webbed feet, wings, a beak, waddles and goes quack-quack and looks like a duck:
It's probably a duck...

If it seems like an extortion racket, is operated like an extrortion racket, is run by an organised gang just like an extortion racket (the police are the biggest 'gang' in the country), if it is just like reasoning with any Mafiosa racketeer where any victim's observations are cast aside in the ultimate quest for ¢a$h, then it probably is an extortion racket.

Or as I like to call it State Sponsored Theft

Remember you have a vote at the next local and general elections: Tell your currently elected representatives how you feel.
Make sure you go and vote !!!