New scheme to drive down forecourt crime in Conwy
31/12/2012
Criminals who fill up with fuel and drive off
without paying are the target of a new scheme launched by police
and industry partners.
North Wales Police and Conwy Community Safety
Partnership have joined forces with the British Oil Security
Syndicate (BOSS) and independent retailers to introduce Forecourt
Watch throughout the Conwy county area.
Forecourt Watch creates a closer link between
police, BOSS and retail staff to increase awareness, prevention and
the reporting and recording of incidents. Service station staff
will take details of any vehicle which drives off without paying
and will swiftly pass the information to police.
The scheme in North Wales, which has been
rolled out at a number of key sites throughout Conwy county, is the
latest addition to around 126 schemes which are already operating
throughout the UK.
Inspector Julie Sheard from North Wales Police
Community Safety Department said: “Fuel theft is not a victimless
crime and has an impact on consumers, retailers and the police. As
the price of fuel continues to rise, stealing it becomes
increasingly attractive and is hitting garages.
“We are pleased to be working with BOSS to
tackle forecourt crime, which has a huge financial impact and is
also linked to other type of offences. This is yet another example
of partnership working to help us reduce crime and catch
offenders.”
BOSS estimates that overall forecourt crime
throughout Britain, excluding credit card fraud, cost the oil
retailing industry more than £23 million a year.
Executive Director at BOSS, Kevin Eastwood
added: “We’re pleased to be launching this new scheme with North
Wales Police. Drive-off incidents cost the UK oil industry
approximately £16 million last 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 service station forecourts
as well as bringing offenders to justice.
“Our aim is to maintain fuel stations as a
safe environment for customers and staff, targeting those people
who drive off without paying for their fuel and use service
stations as a route to commit more serious crimes.”
Research shows that offences of driving off
without paying for fuel 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-off incidents will be provided to
staff at all forecourts taking part in the scheme. This enables
fuel 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 that making off
without payment is a criminal offence.
Service stations who are 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.
Note:
The British Oil Security Syndicate Ltd (BOSS)
is a not-for-profit independent trade organisation campaigning to
reduce forecourt crime. Formed in 1991 by the oil industry, its
members include all BP, Shell, Texaco and Total branded service
stations, including independent retailers.
BOSS is supported by the United Kingdom
Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), UK Payments Administration,
Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Association of Chief
Police Officers (ACPO).
Further information regarding BOSS can be found on their
website