Crime reduction 

Forecourt security

Petrol forecourt retailers are asked to consider the crime prevention advice below.

This advice is intended to reduce bilking and other petrol forecourt crimes. It is not exhaustive, but is aimed at helping forecourt retailers to examine their premises and procedures.

Examine the layout of your forecourt

• Does the kiosk operator have a clear view of all the petrol pumps?
• How many points are there where vehicles can enter or leave the forecourt?
• Are there speed humps?
• Are there painted bays for vehicles to park in while filling up?
• Does your garage have closed-circuit television (CCTV) and/or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)?
• If so, do CCTV cameras have a clear view of each petrol pump?
• Does the kiosk operator have access to the CCTV equipment and do they know how to work it?
• Is there a CCTV management system in place?
• Is the CCTV footage recorded in a format that courts can view? (This is especially important for digital systems).
• Is the CCTV registered under the Data Protection Act 1998? Are there signs telling people that the cameras are in use?

Examine your procedures

• Do you have an active policy of prosecuting non-payers?
• Do you display signs that tell people that you prosecute non-payers?
• Is there a petrol pump management system? For example, one that turns off outside pumps at quieter times of the day?
• Do you have online authorisation facilities for payments by card?
• Do you examine your ‘drive-off’ figures for patterns in the times and frequencies of drive-offs, and do you act on them?
• What procedures do you use to vet your staff? What crime prevention/reduction training do they receive?
• Is there a reward system for staff that prevent crime?

Forecourt Watch

Forecourt Watch is about the police and garages working together to share information about bilking and other petrol forecourt crimes. The aim is to prevent and reduce these crimes and catch offenders.

For more details, please contact your local crime prevention and reduction adviser or visit the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) website (opens new window).