Almost £200,000 of fuel stolen from UK forecourts every day since Iran war began

Since the onset of the Iran war, an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel has been stolen from UK petrol stations daily, according to industry analysis. This surge in thefts coincides with a significant increase in fuel prices.

Data from Forecourt Eye indicates a 20% rise in incidents of unpaid fuel since February 28, the start of the five-month period following the war's outbreak. The conflict in the Middle East disrupted oil supplies, leading to higher wholesale prices and, consequently, increased costs at UK pumps.

The value of stolen fuel has reportedly jumped by 48% compared to the five months preceding the war, reaching an average daily total of £194,000. Forecourt Eye, a company specializing in fuel theft prevention, also noted an increase in "abuse, intimidation and violence from frustrated customers" reported by petrol stations.

These figures are derived from a representative sample of 550 forecourts, comparing the five months before and after the war began, and then extrapolated to cover all 8,359 UK forecourts. The sample data suggests an average of 2,872 daily theft incidents across the UK after the war started, up from approximately 2,400. These incidents include drivers leaving without paying and individuals claiming inability to pay after filling their tanks.

The volume of stolen fuel has increased by 24%, from an estimated 87,000 litres to 108,900 litres per day across all forecourts. In response, Forecourt Eye plans to collaborate with facial recognition company Facewatch, offering over 2,000 retailers free access to crime reporting technology starting in the autumn.

Fuel prices peaked in April, then decreased when the US and Iran reached a framework agreement to end the conflict in June. However, prices have since risen again following the collapse of peace talks. Last week, petrol prices reached their highest point since the Middle East conflict began, and their highest level since 2022. Forecourt Eye also observed a similar increase in thefts after the Russia-Ukraine war commenced in early 2022.

This development follows recent comments from John Healey, who, over the weekend, pledged government action against any price gouging related to the Iran war. The new chancellor informed the Sunday Telegraph that while there was no significant evidence of widespread price gouging, he would be "watching closely" for any indications that the public was being "taken for a ride at the pump or the till."

Earlier this year, former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and some of his ministers had stated that the government would intervene if fuel retailers were overcharging customers, leading to a dispute. Fuel retailers have denied accusations of price gouging, with the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) criticizing the government's "inflammatory language."

In May, the Competition and Markets Authority reported no widespread evidence of price gouging in the weeks following the conflict. However, it did state that it was investigating why fuel margins increased between February and March for two supermarkets and three non-supermarket retailers. The PRA was contacted for comment regarding Healey's remarks.

The British Retail Consortium responded by asserting that competition among supermarkets, not government intervention, has kept prices as low as possible. It added that many of the additional costs driving up prices stem from higher National Insurance contributions, increased packaging taxes, and the failure to reform "outdated" business rates. Andrew Opie, BRC director of food and sustainability, stated, "Despite these pressures, retailers will continue to do everything they can to deliver great value for customers."