BOSS has launched a pioneering project with Strathclyde Police to help fuel retailers in rural communities tackle crime on their sites.

Strathclyde Police and BOSS are building on an existing partnership to develop closer ties between police and out-of-town fuel retailers around Dunoon, Cowal and Oban. The rural scheme was introduced alongside new Forecourt Watches covering urban service stations in the Clydebank and Dumbarton areas.

Commenting on the initiatives, which were officially launched at Dumbarton police station, area commander chief inspector Fergus Byrne of Strathclyde police said: "This is a fine example of co-operation and partnership working to make filling stations safer places.

"The sharing of information in relation to crimes and disorder should impact on crime associated with petrol stations not only in the more populated areas of the division such as Clydebank, Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh, but also in some of the more rural areas of Argyll and Bute."

Meanwhile, in the West Midlands a new Forecourt Watch scheme has been rolled out across the entire West Midlands Police force area as part of Operation Kadence, which aims to drive down fuel and number-plate theft following successful trials in Birmingham and Sandwell.