ACS has responded to comments made by Simon Cole QPM, the National Police Chief’s Council lead on local policing and Leicestershire Chief Constable about the widespread introduction of pre-payment of fuel, suggesting that Chief Constable Cole doesn’t appreciate the significant cost and complexity that pre-payment entails for the UK’s 8,400+ petrol forecourts.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Simon Cole QPM said: “The petroleum industry could design out bilking in 30 seconds by making people pay up front which is what they do in other countries. They don’t because the walk up in their shops is part of their business offer.”
Currently, around one in five (19%) petrol forecourts offer ‘pay at pump’ facilities, although this is usually an option for customers rather than a requirement.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Chief Constable Cole’s comments are too simplistic. The universal introduction of mandatory pay at pump facilities would be extremely expensive and any additional costs would inevitably have to be passed on to motorists and shop customers. We appreciate the pressure on police resources and the desire to ‘design out’ crime wherever possible, but preventing drive offs is not a quick fix.”
ACS has developed guidance for retailers on ways to prevent fuel theft, which is available here: https://cdn.acs.org.uk/public/imported_images/2017/02/ACS-Advice-preventing-Fuel-Theft-D4-10.01.17-AW-SPREADS-LR-V2.pdf
The article from this morning’s Telegraph is available here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/04/motorists-should-forced-pre-pay-petrol-police-can-focus-violent/
