November 2003

CRIME BUSTING SCHEME GOES LIVE IN DERBYSHIRE

 

A new forecourt crime fighting initiative is being launched by the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) and the Derbyshire Police at 10.30am on Tuesday, 4 November 2003 at the Esso Mackworth service station, Mackworth Island in Derby.

 

Forecourt Watch   -   a partnership between police, petrol retailers and BOSS - is aimed at reducing all crime on service stations in Derby and South Derbyshire and in particular the number of people driving off without paying for their fuel.   The scheme has seen local petrol retailers linked to a ringmaster communications system, which provides them with information about forecourt crimes committed in their area and details of suspects and their vehicles.  

 

When a drive-off takes place, all other service stations within the scheme are immediately alerted and details of the offending vehicle are circulated within minutes of receiving a report of the crime.

             

So far 16 service stations have joined the scheme and each will display posters warning would be offenders that forecourt crime does not pay and that those committing drive-offs will be prosecuted.

 

As part of the scheme Derbyshire police have appointed a forecourt crime officer, which in the first few weeks of the scheme going live has already paid dividends because the number of drive-offs has already decreased.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Launching Derbyshire's Forecourt Watch Sgt Shaun Skelton, crime reduction officer said: "Forecourt Watch is an important initiative in the fight against crime and we hope more petrol retailers will join the scheme. We believe there is a strong link between those criminals, who drive off without paying for their fuel, and other crime. By working together we can address this issue and have a positive impact on all forms of crime."                                                                                    

                                                                                                                             

Bruce Nichol, BOSS regional co-ordinator for the East Midlands, added: "BOSS is concerned about the safety of service station staff and customers.   By introducing Forecourt Watch to Derbyshire we aim to ensure that forecourts remain safe places. Where BOSS has introduced Forecourt Watch schemes in other parts of the country the result has been a substantial reduction in service station crime.   We believe that that by working in partnership with police and petrol retailers we will see a reduction in crime on Derbyshire's forecourts."

 

Forecourt crime costs petrol retailers more than £20 million each year in lost revenue.   Motorists driving off without paying for their fuel cost the industry over £12 million and Derbyshire is no exception. Between April and September this year Derby and South Derbyshire Police recorded 573 drive-off offences.