PRA welcomes crack-down on ‘drive-offs’

The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA), the trade body representing independent forecourts in the UK, welcomes new legal guidelines from the Crown Prosecution Service calling for fuel thieves to be prosecuted.

Current industry practices allow drivers who have no means of payment to fill in a form acknowledging their debt, agreeing to pay it back later. However, under the new guidelines, prosecutions will be recommended where a motorist can be shown to have repeatedly filled up without any means of payment. Motorists who leave false details with a forecourt will also be prosecuted.

Brian Madderson, PRA chairman commented “The PRA has lobbied for the prosecution of fuel thieves who repeatedly abuse ‘no means of payment’ following the significant rise in the number of retailers falling victim of such conduct.

“PRA members have also reported an alarming increase in the number of forecourt incidents including drive offs, bulk theft and the rise in illicit fuel sales. Therefore it is imperative that the Crown Prosecution Service go further in supporting retailers against the shocking levels of theft experienced on forecourts.” pg