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Press ReleasesPRESS RELEASES
3rd June 2009
NEW FORECOURT WATCH IN NORFOLK
Thieves who fill up and drive-off from petrol stations are the target of a new scheme launched by police and industry partners today.
Norfolk Constabulary has joined forces with The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) and independent retailers to introduce Forecourt Watch across the county.
The scheme creates a closer link between police, BOSS and retail staff to increase awareness, prevention and the reporting and recording of incidents.
The Norfolk Forecourt Watch scheme, being rolled out to more than 40 key stations across the county, is the latest addition to the 70 schemes already operating throughout the UK.
Marking the launch of the scheme at Shell Sweet Briar petrol station in Norwich today, Chief Superintendent Bob Scully said: “Norfolk Constabulary is committed to working in partnership with others to reduce crime and bring criminals to justice. Fuel theft is not a victimless crime and has an impact on consumers, retailers and the police.
“Forecourt watch is the first operation in the county between police, BOSS and independent petrol retailers and will lead to positive changes in the way we manage forecourt crime – driving down fuel theft, increasing the number of detections and making this business environment a safer place for staff and customers alike.”
Between September 2007 and 2008, there were 499 recorded incidents of making off without payments – known as ‘bilkings’ – across Norfolk, with a key period for offences shown as late afternoon and early evening.
Research also shows that bilking offences are often linked to offenders or vehicles involved in other types of crime and to disqualified drivers, those without insurance, tax or MOT, or vehicles with false number plates.
BOSS Forecourt Watch documentation for the recording and notifying of ‘drive-offs’ and ‘no means of payment’ incidents will be provided to staff at all forecourts taking part in the scheme. This enables petrol service stations to work in conjunction with police and BOSS to help bring offenders to justice.
High visibility stickers and posters on the forecourt itself will raise awareness among customers and potential thieves that Forecourt Watch is in operation and making off without payment is a criminal offence.
Service stations registered with the scheme will also benefit from sharing information with police and each other on suspects, vehicles and known offenders – to maximise disruption and detection of offences.
Tom Sterling, BOSS Regional Co-ordinator, says: “Drive-offs and No Means of Payment incidents cost the UK petrol industry approximately £30 million every year. By building successful partnerships with local police, petrol retailers and other agencies through initiatives such as the BOSS Forecourt Watch schemes, we are able to deter and prevent crime on petrol forecourts. Our aim is to maintain petrol stations as a safe environment for customers and staff.”
The scheme will be rolled out at stations identified by police analysis as vulnerable, either through location or recorded incidents.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) is an independent trade organisation campaigning to reduce forecourt crime. Formed in 1991 by the oil industry, its members include BP, Shell, Texaco, Total and the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). BOSS is supported by the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), the Association of Payment Clearing Services (APACS), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
For further information about BOSS, contact Piers Roache or Emma Morris at Campbell Marsh Communications on 01926 864044 or e-mail piers@campbellmarsh.com / emma@campbellmarsh.com . Kevin Eastwood at BOSS on 01926 864757 or e-mail kevine@bossuk.org
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CLAMPDOWN BEGINS ON FORECOURT CRIMINALS IN TAYSIDE
Tayside Police and The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) are putting the brakes on drivers who attempt to make off from petrol forecourts without paying or claim to have no means of payment and subsequently fail to return, by launching a new Forecourt Watch scheme in the Perth area.
Tayside’s first Forecourt Watch scheme will be formally launched at 11am on Thursday 21 May at the BP Connect Filling Station, the Triangle, Dunkeld Rd, Perth PH1 3GA.
BOSS Forecourt Watch Documentation for the recording and notifying of ‘drive-offs’ and ‘no means of payment’ incidents will be provided to staff at all forecourts taking part in the scheme. This enables petrol service stations to work in conjunction with police and BOSS to help bring offenders to justice.
The Tayside Forecourt Watch scheme, a partnership scheme between Tayside Police and BOSS, is launching at six sites in the Perth area and it is hoped to extend the scheme across the county.
Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, says: “Drive-offs and no means of payment incidents cost the UK petrol industry more than £30 million every year. By building successful partnerships with local police, petrol retailers and other agencies and delivering initiatives such as the BOSS Forecourt Watch scheme, which we are delighted to be launching here in Perth, we are able to deter and prevent a significant level of this type of crime on petrol forecourts.”
ENDS
For further information about BOSS, contact Piers Roache or Emma Morris at Campbell Marsh Communications on 01926 864044 or e-mail piers@campbellmarsh.com / emma@campbellmarsh.com
Kevin Eastwood at BOSS on 01926 864757 or e-mail kevine@bossuk.org
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May 2009
BOSS FIGURES SHOW FALL IN COST OF FORECOURT CRIME IN 2008
Crime at Britain’s petrol service stations fell by eight per cent in 2008, reversing a 13 per cent increase in estimated losses suffered by forecourt retailers in Britain during the previous year according to the latest forecourt crime statistics from BOSS – the British Oil Security Syndicate.
The annual BOSS survey of crime at Britain’s 9,283 service stations put total losses during 2008 at £29.9 million [2007: £32.5 million]. Driving off without paying and incidents of motorists who do not return to pay after claiming to have ‘no means of payment’ accounted for 88 per cent of losses and amounted to £26.3 million, 8.4 per cent down on 2007. This reduction was achieved despite a backdrop of 16 per cent higher average fuel prices than in 2007.
The BOSS figures show that, during 2008, the average value of incidents of driving off without paying increased from £35 in 2007 to over £40, closely corresponding to the increase in fuel prices.
Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, says:
"This eight per cent reduction in losses does not detract from the fact that crime levels at service stations remain unacceptable. High fuel prices make service stations a target for theft by driving off without paying and claiming to have no means of payment, but BOSS, by working closely with police and regional agencies, has reduced the incidence of this type of crime. Where effective crime reduction strategies have been introduced, the level of losses has been substantially reduced.
“BOSS is developing new initiatives and during the year ahead will be working with its members to make forecourts safer places to work and shop with a focus on reducing assaults on staff, theft, robbery, burglary and anti-social-behaviour.
“BOSS Forecourt Watch schemes have proved instrumental in the fight against service station crime, establishing local campaigns to monitor and pursue offenders while safeguarding the well-being of customers and staff. BOSS Forecourt Watch initiatives operate in over 70 areas across the UK and we have seen crime fall by more than 50 per cent in some cases. We are building on this success by continually improving the efficiency of our Forecourt Watch schemes.”
The BOSS forecourt crime figures below show incident and loss rates per 100 sites suffered by BOSS members in 2008.
• There is an ongoing drive to improve safety and tighten site security. The incidence of crime related injuries rose to 1.6 per 100 sites [2007:1.3]. There were historically high incident levels in January to June 2008 but these fell back in the second half of the year.
• Robbery incidents fell substantially to 4.6 incidents per 100 sites [2007: 7.7] and losses were also down at £6,909 per 100 sites [2007: £10,853].
burglary incident rate is now measured per 100 non-24 hour service stations as it is at these that the majority of burglaries occur. The following figures are not comparable with previous reports. The rate fell substantially to 24.5 incidents per 100 non-24 hour sites [2007: 38.8]. Losses were also lower at £32,280 per 100 non 24 hour sites [2007: £44,451].
• The rate for weapon related incidents fell to 3.0 per 100 [2007: 6.2]. Reporting of guns fell to 0.8 per 100 sites [2007: 1.4]; the rate of incidents involving knives fell to 1.3 [2005: 2.4] and reports of other weapons fell to 0.9 [2006: 2.4].
• Driving off without payment ( including losses due to motorists who claim to have no means to pay , ) represents 88 per cent of industry financial losses and, during 2008, incidents of this type cost £283,304 per 100 sites [2007: £309,308], down 8.4 per cent.
THE FIGHT AGAINST FORECOURT CRIME CONTINUES