Unpaid fuel incidents went up 19 per cent during March, according to the latest Forecourt Crime Index from the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS). The industry body puts that down to higher pump prices.
The Index reached 219 in the first quarter of 2026, up 4pc on the end quarter of 2025, marking an upward trend since the third quarter of 2025 after a prolonged decline through 2024 and early 2025. The increase coincides with sharp fuel price rises following the outbreak of war in the Middle East at the end of February. Average petrol prices rose from ยฃ1.372 per litre in the last three months of 2025 to a peak of ยฃ1.583 in April, while diesel rose likewise from ยฃ1.466 to ยฃ1.915 per litre.
With unpaid fuel incidents now averaging ยฃ60.16 per case, BOSS estimates forecourts face potential losses of more than ยฃ12,000 per site annually, contributing to an industryโwide cost of more than ยฃ100m a year.
While total unpaid fuel volumes in the first quarter of 2026 remain marginally below the same period for 2025, the latest figures reverse the downward trend previously seen in No Means of Payment (NMoP) and Making Off Without Payment (MOWP) incidents. BOSS data shows that 65 per cent of DriveโOff-FailureโtoโPay incidents involve motorists entering a forecourt shop but leaving without paying for fuel, highlighting the need for strong inโstore procedures and staff vigilance.
Comment
Claire Nichol, pictured, Executive Director at BOSS, said: โAs fuel prices rise, we consistently see an increase in unpaid fuel incidents. At current prices, deliberate nonโpayment is costing the forecourt sector more than ยฃ100m a year. Operators should be particularly vigilant during busy periods and alert to customers making small purchases without declaring fuel.โ
She added that sites using BOSS Payment Watch recorded a small reduction in unpaid fuel reports during the past 12 months, underlining the deterrent effect of wellโmanaged fuel debt recovery.
About the BOSS Forecourt Crime Index
Launched in 2015, it tracks unpaid fuel incidents at UK forecourts to help operators assess risk and reduce losses.
