11/08/2016

UUP Slams New PSNI Pilot Scheme

A new PSNI pilot scheme aiming to deal with people who leave petrol stations without paying for their fuel has been slammed by the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

UUP MLA Jenny Palmer is calling for the new scheme, which has been introduced in Lisburn & Castlereagh and Ards & North Down, to be scrapped as soon as possible.

She said: "Letters were sent to petrol stations in the two districts in July explaining the change, which came into effect at the start of August.

"Under the new process, it is understood petrol retailers will have to send a letter to the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) to get the information on the car, which incurs a £2.50 fee and tell them that there has been a criminal act.

"Retailers will then have to write to the driver to ask them if they were in the petrol station on a certain date and to ask them to pay for the fuel.

"This is quite frankly a disgraceful scheme and it can only lead to an increase in theft as petty criminals will take advantage of the huge amount of red tape which petrol retailers will have to trawl through to get their money back."

(CD/JP)

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