The cumbersome paper and postal process required for forecourt operators to obtain vehicle-keeper details from the DVLA has come to an end thanks to a new scheme that grants firms digital access to drivers’ records.
Previously, forecourt firms and industry-security companies wanting to obtain the name and address of a vehicle’s registered keeper following a drive-off or similar incident had to fill out a V888 form and post this to the DVLA, along with a cheque for £2.50 and supporting photographic evidence.
Now, an official accreditation process to gain digital access to the DVLA’s records is open to petrol-station retailers and security companies in a manner similar to that enjoyed by private parking firms.
The change follows lobbying by the Petrol Retailers Association. The organisation has previously met with Home Office and DVLA officials to explain the difficulties implicit in the old paper-based scheme, which could take weeks to yield results as DVLA staff manually processed posted applications before issuing details.
The digital-access programme is being run by the Police Crime Prevention Initiative, and firms are set to be contacted imminently with details of how to apply for it.
It is understood that accreditation will cost several thousand pounds, making it likely that rather than pay for individual access, many operators will turn to security firms such as Vars Technology, Big Brother, Forecourt Eye and BOSS, with these firms processing requests on behalf of retailers.
Fuel theft remains endemic in the UK, with police unable to detect such crimes effectively, ending investigations with no suspect being identified in the vast majority of cases.
The PRA’s executive director, Gordon Balmer, says his organisation which has been lobbying for this change for years is “very pleased that this policy is now being implemented”, calling the scheme a “vital step forwards” as forecourt operators seek to recover costs associated with stolen fuel.
Balmer adds: “We look forward to working with the relevant authorities as they roll out this Accreditation Standard. This move will see the more effective enforcement of forecourt crime and serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves.”
