A guide produced by the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) is supporting a successful crime reduction training initiative in Rossendale, Lancashire.

Bob Ormerod, a community volunteer with Lancashire Constabulary, developed the drive-off prevention training which he has been delivering at local service stations during 2012.

“The training is based on the practical advice in the BOSS guide and has contributed to the number of drive-offs in the area falling by 62% compared to the same period last year, which is a considerable reduction,” said Ormerod. “We’re bringing more offenders to justice and more than £1,100 has been paid back to retailers by motorists who had failed to pay for their fuel.”

Kevin Eastwood, executive director of BOSS, added: “We’re delighted that the guidance offered in our drive-off prevention manual is helping to bring about such positive results in Lancashire. This is a great example of how co-ordinated efforts to support and train fuel retailers can have a significant impact on cutting levels of crime on the forecourt.”

The BOSS handbook, called ‘Drive-off prevention – a useful guide for fuel retailers’, uses real-life drive-off examples to illustrate typical instances that retailers should be alert to.

Created in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Service, the booklet has been distributed to a number of police forces throughout the UK.