Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is facing criticism for linking a rise in petrol station thefts to the UK's cost of living crisis. Data shows that thieves are now stealing approximately £200,000 of fuel daily from forecourts across the country.
The £200,000 daily drain on UK forecourts
Recent data analyzed by the fuel theft prevention firm Forecourt Eye reveals a stark increase in criminal activity at filling stations. According to the report, the value of stolen fuel has climbed by 48 per cent, reaching a daily average of £194,000 across the UK's 8,359 forecourts. This surge is not limited to career criminals; the report notes a 23 per cent rise in incidents involving first-time offenders.
The volume of fuel stolen by these first-time offenders has jumped by 26 per cent, outstripping the 20 per cent increase seen among repeat offenders. These crimes primarily manifest as "drive-offs," where payment is ignored entirely, or "no means of payment" incidents, where customers fill their tanks and then claim an inability to pay. This trend suggests a broadening demographic of peole engaging in forecourt crime.
Miatta Fahnbulleh and the 'soft on crime' accusation
The political controversy erupted following an interview on LBC radio, where host Nick Ferrari questioned Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh about these figures. while Fahnbulleh stated that there is "never any justification" for theft, she noted that people are under "huge pressure" due to the costs of energy and fuel. this attempt to provide social context was immediately seized upon by political opponents.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, has accused the Labour government of being "soft on crime" by associating theft with economic hardship. As the report indicates, Fahnbulleh maintains that the government is working with the Home Office to address the issue, but her focus remains heavily on the underlying cost of fuel, which she believes the government must "get a grip on."
How the Iran conflict pushed petrol to 160p per litre
The spike in thefts coincides with a period of extreme price volatility triggered by the conflict involving Iran. Since the conflict began on February 28, thefts have leaped by 20 per cent. The average price of a litre of petrol rose to 160p last Friday, which is roughly 27p higher than prices were before the conflict began, marking a three-and-a-half-year high. Diesel has seen an even sharper increase, sitting at 179p per litre, or 37p higher than pre-war levels.
Industry observers note that the fallout from the US-Iran conflict has triggered a wave of crime more severe than the disruptions caused by Russia's war with Ukraine. this suggests that the current geopolitical instability is having a more direct and immediate impact on the behavior of UK motorists and the stability of fuel pricing than previous global shocks.
From Ferrari drive-offs to organized transit van gangs
The nature of the theft has evolved beyond desperate individuals. Forecourt operators report a "brazen" atmosphere where drivers of luxury vehicles, including Ferraris and Mercedes, speed away without paying , sometimes taunting staff. Simultaneously, organized criminal gangs are utilizing transit vans equipped with large internal canisters to siphon fuel, which they then resell at a discount from roadside laybys, effectively operating as illicit mobile petrol stations.
Gordon Balmer, the executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, has highlighted the human cost of this trend, reporting increased levels of abuse and aggression toward staff who have no control over fuel pricing. While Michelle Henchoz of Forecourt Eye argues that operators need more sophisticated, joined-up technology to protect their stores, several questions remain. It is still unclear how many of these "mobile petrol stations" are operating nationwide or whether the Home Office has a specific task force dedicated to these organized siphoning rings.
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