Advice on Forecourt Security

It is not exhaustive, but is aimed at helping forecourt retailers to examine their premises and procedures.

Pre-Paid System

Move to a pre-paid system – This can provide the most effective prevention solution.

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?

• 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 and ICO compliant?

• Are there signs telling people that CCTV is in operation?

• Do you have adequate lighting that allows your staff to identify registration number, colour of vehicle, etc?

Examine your procedures:

• Do you display signs that advise people that you prosecute non-payers?

• Is there a fuel 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 your staff receive?

Tips to prevent drive offs/bilking include the following:

• Staff should ask customers did they get fuel to help prevent cases where customers genuinely forget to pay

• Staff should not authorise the pump if the registration plate cannot be seen or is not displayed

• Use of tannoy to make suspicious people aware you have noticed them on the forecourt. Ask them to check engine is off/lights are on/doors open etc

• If station is staffed by two or more persons, make regular walks onto the forecourt to restock or clean the forecourt

• Do not be afraid to request pre-payment, go with your instincts. For example common signs can be

• Driver still at wheel while passenger is filling up.

• Vehicle parked at an unusual angle to prevent CCTV picking up registration plate.

• Bikers not removing crash helmets

• Customers trying to hide behind their or another’s vehicle when filling up

• Vehicle parked away from kiosk towards exit.

Bespoke Training and Assessment

PSNI provide bespoke Retail Security (Safeshop) & Lone Worker packages.

For further details on these packages contact your local Crime Prevention Officer