A first analysis of unpaid fuel reports for April 2026, by the trade body BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, suggests a continued rise in reports of unpaid fuel, after a sharp increase in reports the month before.
Data from BOSS Payment Watch, shows that, after a 19pc rise in March, reported incidents of unpaid fuel rose by a further 3pc during April, after a period of rising fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. BOSS says that it continues to monitor trends closely as external economic and geopolitical factors impact both fuel pricing and customer behaviour at forecourts across the UK.
Claire Nichol, Executive Director at BOSS, said: โAs forecourts become busier and customer behaviour continues to evolve, preventing fuel-related losses remains a priority for every forecourt operator. Unpaid fuel reports have continued to rise in recent weeks, so forecourt operators should remain vigilant for unusual activity at the pumps and ensure that customers entering stores pay for fuel.โ
The membership body is urging forecourt operators to maintain robust procedures and be aware of suspicious activity, particularly during periods of increased demand and price volatility. BOSS’ 2026 first quarter Forecourt Crime Index rose to 219, up 4pc on the last quarter of 2025, marking an upward trend since the third quarter of last year after a decline through 2024 and early 2025. Visit www.bossuk.org.
More in the June 2026 edition of Professional Security Magazine.
