Crime on Britain’s forecourts cost fuel retailers over £22 million in 2010, up from £19 million in 2009, according to figures revealed in the annual forecourt crime survey carried out by BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate. 

The main source of the estimated total loss is £15.5 million resulting from ‘drive off’ incidents with a further £4.5 million lost from motorists claiming to have ‘no means of payment’ (NMoP) who then fail to return to clear their debt.

BOSS is addressing these problems on several fronts. At a local level, where its established Forecourt Watch schemes are operating successfully, losses have been shown to fall by up to 55%. These schemes are initiated by BOSS on behalf of its members and help to forge productive working relationships between retailers and local police to ensure swift and efficient detection of forecourt crime.

On a national level, BOSS has introduced a new NMoP debt recovery scheme, available to any fuel retailer, which helps them to recover financial losses incurred as a result of NMoP incidents. This has the dual benefits of deterring such activity and returning money to retailers. 

The combined drive off and NMoP loss for the average UK service station in 2010 compared with the previous year rose 2.5% in terms of litres but 19% in cash terms due to the effect of increased fuel prices. 

The survey results also showed that robbery losses including attacks on contractors collecting cash or re-stocking cash machines were up slightly at £1.43 million while burglary losses fell slightly to £0.72 million. With robbery there is the added threat of personal injury because it involves violence or the threat of it. However, reports of crime related injuries to staff were at their lowest level since the survey was started.

Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, says: “The rise in losses shows how essential it is to deter this type of crime. We are pressing ahead to expand the number of our Forecourt Watch schemes and increase participation in our pioneering NMoP debt recovery scheme, now available across the UK for BOSS members and associates - many participating service stations are reporting in excess of 80% of monies recovered. We have other initiatives under development with police that will benefit our members, police and other partners, to combat criminal activity at Britain’s service stations.”

For more information please visit www.bossuk.org.

*** Please note that anyone quoting or using this information should credit The British Oil Security Syndicate Ltd. (BOSS), and where possible include a link to this website - www.bossuk.org ***

Notes to editors:

The British Oil Security Syndicate Ltd. (BOSS) is an independent trade organisation campaigning to reduce forecourt crime.  Formed in 1991 by the oil industry, its members include BP, Shell, Texaco and Total. BOSS is supported by the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), UK Payments (formerly APACS), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

For further information about BOSS please visit www.bossuk.org or contact

Piers Roache or Adrian Marsh at Campbell Marsh Communications on 01926 420660 or e-mail piers@campbellmarsh.com / ajmarsh@campbellmarsh.com 

Kevin Eastwood at BOSS on 01926 864757 or e-mail kevine@bossuk.org  

THE FIGHT AGAINST FORECOURT CRIME CONTINUES

www.bossuk.org