Vertical Markets

BOSS talk

by Mark Rowe

Among the delegates at the recent IBP robbery and serious crime symposium at Hayling Island was Kevin Eastwood, pictured, the executive director of the British Oil Security Syndicate – BOSS, the industry body working to cut crime on petrol forecourts. He spoke to Mark Rowe.

While, in some areas, drive-offs are going down – that is, drivers filling up at the pumps and then simply leaving without paying – another problem seen on forecourts is ‘no means to pay’, which is people claiming that they do not have the money to pay for fuel – and doing so frequently. About 200 cases – the evidence including witness statements put together by BOSS – have gone to police and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service. “And that’s brilliant results,” said Eastwood, “and there’s more in the pipeline.”

As with any trade body, the more members, the more work that BOSS can do with the more data, and the fewer places these drivers who make a habit of not paying for petrol can go.

Why are some parts seeing fewer drive-offs? Kevin Eastwood suggested that it depends on the profile of crime in an area; because police have limited resources. If an area has lower levels of crime, drive-offs might feature as a higher police priority, he suggested. “But where drive-offs are receiving attention, quite often you will see a migration from drive-offs to no means to pay, as a way of filling the vehicle.” That said, he added that some drivers do make genuine mistakes; and some may do it as a ‘pay day loan exercise’ – that is, because they have run short before the next pay packet.

About the British Oil Security Syndicate Ltd. (BOSS)

A not-for-profit independent trade organisation, formed in 1991 by the oil industry, membership is available to fuel retailers and oil companies. 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). Visit www.bossuk.org.

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