§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many petrol station bilking incidents in each of the last five years in which police were involved occurred in(a) England and (b) Luton; [6387]
- (2) how many petrol station bilking incidents where police were involved led to prosecutions in (a) England and (b) Luton; and in each of the last five years in what percentage of such incidents police attended; [6388]
- (3) if he will estimate the cost of police involvement in bilking at petrol stations in each of the past five years in (a) England and (b) Wales. [6385]
§ Mr. DenhamThe statistics collected centrally do not include the circumstances of the offence so that offences of making off without payment (bilking) from petrol stations cannot be distinguished from similar offences at other premises.
The number of such incidents, the percentage of such incidents being attended by the police and the estimated cost to the police are therefore not centrally available.
The table provides information from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database and shows the total number of prosecutions for making off without payment (bilking) in England, Wales and in the Luton Petty Sessional Area.