Police clarify legal definition of unpaid fuel incidents, noting not all are criminal

Superintendent Fran Harrod, a senior officer with Lincolnshire Police, has indicated that individuals who leave petrol stations without paying for fuel might not be “having a great day.” She clarified that the force possesses “finite resources” for investigating such incidents and is required to demonstrate an intent to steal. Her comments addressed concerns about inadequate enforcement, which arose after a Mablethorpe petrol station owner stated that fuel drive-offs were severely harming her family business. Kavita Pilani reported that her garage had experienced 50 thefts over a six-month period. She appealed to the police to “stop saying that this is not a crime,” arguing that such a stance was “encouraging” individuals to commit these acts. Mrs Pilani, who has operated Empire Garage alongside her husband Sanjay for 10 years, stated that the frequency of drive-offs had escalated over time, with the current year being the most problematic. She described how individuals were filling their vehicles with “nothing less than £80 or £90” of fuel before leaving without payment. She indicated that she possessed CCTV footage of suspected offenders and had reported every incident, but asserted that the police “don’t do anything about it.” In contrast, Lincolnshire Police has stated that incidents of “bilking” – the term used for drivers who pump fuel but leave without paying – can involve individuals who simply forget to pay. Superintendent Harrod commented: “There is an offence of making off without payment.” She further explained: “The issue that comes with that particular crime type is whether that is an honest mistake – somebody has filled up, they’re not having a great day and they’ve driven off – or whether it’s not.” Following a BBC report, Superintendent Harrod confirmed that officers had been dispatched to the garage to provide advice on preventative measures. She asserted that the force was treating the issue seriously and maintained that repeat offenders would be addressed. However, she further stated: “In those high-volume incidences when one individual has left a garage without paying, there are numerous options that assist with the finite resources policing have – and perhaps more importantly for the businesses, to get them their money back.” She advised that businesses should report fuel theft so officers can “understand the picture” and “provide preventative support.” The owners should then utilize a civil debt recovery route through the British Oil Security Syndicate. This method, she explained, would ensure they recovered their money “within a matter of weeks,” in contrast to “using huge amounts of officer hours to go round and ask people to pay up, because the police’s time isn’t free either.” The Petrol Retailers Association, whose members operate 65% of UK forecourts, has reported that drive-offs are costing the industry over £100 million annually, which amounts to approximately £9,000 per forecourt. Superintendent Harrod stated that fuel theft was increasing across Lincolnshire, which was why the force was focusing on “designing out” a preventable crime. She added: “We’ve got to be as efficient and effective as we possibly can to drive that crime down across the board.” Mrs Pilani confirmed her awareness that a police officer had visited the garage last week, though she and her husband were not present at the time. She expressed appreciation for the force’s support but questioned the methods for preventing future thefts. She expressed confidence that the motorists driving off had not forgotten to pay. She added: “We are giving them [the police] the proof of the person driving off.” She further stated: “They just need to see the CCTV recording and call the people to come and pay.”