The PRA has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement in his Autumn Spending Review that police budgets would be maintained. With forecourt crime costing an estimated £40m a year, petrol retailers across England and Wales have been threatened by cash-strapped police authorities that they might refuse to investigate ’drive-offs’ and other forecourt crimes if budget cuts were implemented. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: "The PRA welcomes the maintenance of police budgets, following news that the Home Office recently established a Forecourt Crime Senior Steering Group with funding for at least 12 months."