Police focus on fuel theft as diesel prices reach record high
The PCC says rising fuel prices are having an impact as retailers report more incidents of drivers leaving without paying
Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says fuel theft is a growing concern as petrol stations report more incidents and prices at the pumps hit record levels.
Jonathan Ash-Edwards said rising fuel prices were inevitably having an impact, with people involved in criminality less willing to pay higher prices for fuel.
“All of us, when we're paying for petrol at the pumps are feeling that in our pocket at the moment, in terms of those rising costs,” he said.
“Inevitably, people who are involved in criminality aren't wanting to be paying those costs and so retailers are saying that they are seeing more of an impact.”
The average price of diesel in the UK has risen to almost £2 a litre, with RAC figures putting it at 199.18p per litre — above the previous record set in 2022.
The increase has been linked to disruption to global fuel supplies caused by the conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East.
Mr Ash-Edwards’ comments come after Hertfordshire Constabulary announced last week that 12 people had been charged in connection with hundreds of fuel theft offences across Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties.
Police said around 600 incidents were reported by fuel retailers in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire during 2025.
The investigation covered offences in Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Watford, as well as Bedford, Dunstable and Luton.
Mr Ash-Edwards said he had been meeting petrol retailers and organisations involved in security and intelligence sharing, as well as discussing the issue with Hertfordshire Constabulary.
He said it was important to distinguish between a genuine mistake and deliberate theft.
“It’s really important to differentiate between someone who makes a genuine mistake and who returns and pays,” he said.
But where people make “zero attempt to pay”, he said police take the matter seriously.
He added that retailers were collecting evidence and sharing information with police, helping to strengthen efforts to tackle fuel theft.