The 30-year campaign by the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) to reduce fuel theft and unpaid debts, which cost forecourt operators more than £100 million a year, has reportedly taken a major step forward.
BOSS has become the first fuel debt recovery agency to be accredited by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI) under its scheme for Fuel Retailers and Cost Recovery Agencies.
This move will reportedly permit BOSS to make electronic requests for the registered keeper details of vehicles involved in cases of alleged fuel theft using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Keeper at Date of Event (KADOE) service.
Fuel theft is said to be a major concern for forecourt operators and BOSS’s research estimates that there are more than 1.5 million unpaid fuel incidents annually, with many criminal cases unresolved due to pressure on police resources.
Using the DVLA KADOE API service means BOSS can initiate unpaid fuel debt recovery within 72 hours of a report, which BOSS anticipates could lead to a 10% improvement in fuel debt recovery.
To gain accreditation to access KADOE data, BOSS reportedly underwent a rigorous security and data protection assessment.
The assessment was conducted by Police CPI to ensure BOSS complied with stringent requirements for governance, IT security checks, policies and processes and infrastructure, including BOSS personnel being security vetted by the Police.
Claire Nichol, Executive Director, BOSS said: “This accreditation marks a major step forward in our efforts to support forecourt operators and recover money owed for unpaid fuel.
“By requesting DVLA vehicle data directly, we can act swiftly and lawfully to recover unpaid fuel costs, improving recovery rates and deterring repeat offenders.
“Forecourt operators will also see money returned to them faster than is currently possible.”
Allan Harder, Police CPI commented: “BOSS has demonstrated the highest standards of data management and security.
“Their systems meet the stringent requirements of our assurance framework, ensuring responsible and lawful use of DVLA data associated with fuel theft.”
Gordon Balmer, Executive Director, Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) added: “I am extremely pleased that the work that the PRA put in on this campaign on behalf of its members is now paying off.
“The new process, which is an improvement on the cumbersome paper-based approach, will speed up the recovery of monies associated with non-payment for fuel.”
