March 2004
NEW STIRLING WATCH GOES LIVE

A major new crime initiative aimed at cracking down on service station forecourt crime has been launched this week by Central Scotland Police in conjunction with B.O.S.S (The British Oil Security Syndicate).

 

Thieves who drive off without paying, those who shoplift from filling station shops and others who abuse and intimidate staff will all come under the spotlight with the introduction of the Stirling Area Forecourt Watch Scheme. Central Scotland police officers and petrol retailers have joined forces to fight back against the criminals who are costing the industry millions of pounds and who are pushing up the prices for the ordinary customers.

 

Ten local service stations will be taking part in the initiative which will identify problem areas in the petrol forecourts, will improve the camera security and which will involve the sharing of criminal intelligence. They are Esso Dicksons, Shell Balhadie, Shell Green Welly, Esso Kildean, Esso Craigs, Shell Borestone, Esso Moto, BP Morrisons, Shell Kerse Road and Esso Causewayhead.

 

Constable Bunty Dick, who is co-coordinating the Forecourt Crime campaign said: This initiative is in keeping with our aim to help keep communities safer and we hope to reduce the number of incidents and make the working environment for staff and customers safer."

 

Kevin Eastwood, B.O.S.S Executive Director stated, "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Central Scotland Police at Stirling. It is recognised that criminals who drive off without paying for fuel from service stations are often involved in other types of crime. Forecourt Watch not only reduces forecourt crime, but is known to assist Police in reducing more serious forms of crime, as well as making petrol station shops safer for both customers and staff".

 

The Community Safety department at Central Scotland Police will be issuing all the participating service stations with special joining packs which will contain advice and good practice such as personal safety for staff, managing aggressive customers, shop security, credit card fraud, CCTV and building security.

Notes for Editors:

 

There will be a photo opportunity at the Esso Moto filling station on March 30 at 2pm when Kevin Eastwood, the Executive Director of BOSS will be present along with Jim Anderson, the Scottish Co-ordinator and Constable Bunty Dick from Central Scotland Police.

A Coatbridge man was recently jailed for 18 months and disqualified for five years after a drive off incident at the Moto Filling Station in Stirling.   Central Scotland Police officers chased the man from the Stirling Filling Station up to Fort William where they eventually caught him.   The passenger in the car received 18 months probation and 150 hours community service. Both had previous convictions for this type of offence and in addition the car had been stolen, the driver had been drinking, was driving without insurance and had previously been disqualified. In driving the way they did he also endangered the lives of other road users.