Greater Manchester Police has become the first UK police force to adopt a force-wide policy to investigate the offence of “making off without payment of fuel”.
The scheme has been developed by partnering with BOSS (British Oil Security Syndicate), the forecourt crime reduction and safety body.
The new scheme is due to start on December 1, and intends to reduce crime that costs petrol retailers more than £20m every year in the UK.
Service station retailers across the Greater Manchester region are being invited to a series of seminars throughout November to discuss requirements and expectations. Similar initiatives adopted in other areas of the country have high success rates and it is hoped that this will help retailers and police work together to significantly reduce such offences and provide greater opportunities to bring offenders to justice, the group says.
BOSS says
John Turtle, BOSS regional co-ordinator, says: "There are over 70 Forecourt Watch schemes nationwide, adopted by selected divisions within the country’s police forces. However, the scheme in Manchester is particularly exciting because it is the first time an ENTIRE force has unified its policy on dealing with the offence of ‘Making off without Payment’ regarding the purchase of fuel from service stations. With officers in GMP working with retailers to follow practical Forecourt Watch procedures for dealing with the offence, would be ‘bilkers’ will soon find that there are no pockets of vulnerable sites across the area and should therefore expect to be dealt with severely if they commit such a criminal offence."
The seminars will re-cap on general Forecourt Watch procedures. BOSS reports that a factor for retailers to remember when reporting drive-offs is for retailers to record full details, including any ‘aggravating circumstances’ at first contact with the police.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Jones, Head of Greater Manchester CID, say: "As a force, we are delighted to have introduced a structured policy that supports the fight against crime by working in co-operation with retailers and BOSS, which should not only bring more offenders to justice, but should help to reduce the number of such offences overall. Other forces have found that Forecourt Watch schemes have helped to protect and safeguard the well-being of service station staff and customers, while reducing crime and the fear of crime. Such schemes are examples of how a successful partnership can make a real impact on preventing and detecting crime."
