The Home Office, fuel retailers and police have come together to tackle the £36m annual cost of fuel theft on the UK’s petrol forecourts. The impact that fuel theft is having on the sector has sparked industry groups, including the PRA, Association of Convenience Store (ACS) and the Downstream Fuel Association (DFA) into action to develop new guidance to support fuel retailers in training their staff to prevent drive-offs, and report incidents to the police using a new standard reporting form.
Figures from the ACS suggest fuel theft costs £36m a year, with each store seeing an average of three-to-four incidents a week.
The new guidance addresses what fuel retailers can look out for to prevent drive-offs, and how to deal with no means of payment offences.
Welcoming the new guidance, the minister for vulnerability, safeguarding and countering extremism, Sarah Newton MP, said: "Fuel theft harms businesses, consumers and communities which is why the Home Office is working closely with industry partners and local fuel retailers to understand the nature of this crime, and its cost for retailers. This joint approach has led to this important guidance which will help fuel retailers prevent thefts in future."
The Preventing Fuel Theft Guide and incident report form can be found at https://www.acs.org.uk/fuel-theft/
Fuel retailers can also request hard copies of the guidance by emailing Julie.Byers@acs.org.uk
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