British Oil Security Syndicate confirms DVLA KADOE accreditation

As such, BOSS can now make electronic requests for the registered keeper details of vehicles involved in cases of alleged fuel theft using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Keeper at Date of Event (KADOE) service.

Fuel theft is a major concern for forecourt operators. BOSS-conducted research estimates that there are more than 1.5 million unpaid fuel incidents every year, with many criminal cases unresolved due to pressure on police resources.

Using the DVLA KADOE API service means that BOSS can initiate unpaid fuel debt recovery within 72 hours of a report, which the organisation anticipates could lead to a 10% improvement in fuel debt recovery.

In order to gain accreditation to access KADOE data, BOSS necessarily underwent a rigorous security and data protection assessment. The assessment was conducted by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives to ensure BOSS is compliant with stringent requirements for governance, IT security checks, policies, processes and infrastructure. The checking procedure included BOSS personnel being security vetted by the police.

Major step forward

Claire Nichol, executive director of BOSS, said: “This accreditation marks a major step forward in our efforts to support forecourt operators and recover money owed for unpaid fuel. By requesting DVLA vehicle data directly, we can act swiftly and lawfully to recover unpaid fuel costs, in turn improving recovery rates and deterring repeat offenders. Forecourt operators will also see money returned to them much faster than is currently possible.”

Allan Harder (operational lead for integrity screening at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives) commented: “BOSS has demonstrated the highest standards of data management and security. The organisation’s systems meet the stringent requirements of our assurance framework, ensuring responsible and lawful use of DVLA data associated with fuel theft.”

Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, noted: “I’m extremely pleased that the work we’ve conducted on this campaign on behalf of the members is now paying off. The new process, which is an improvement on the cumbersome paper-based approach, will speed up the recovery of monies associated with non-payment for fuel.”

Payment Watch

BOSS’ fuel debt recovery service, namely Payment Watch, was established in 2010 to lead the forecourt industry’s response to recovering unpaid fuel debts. It currently achieves recovery rates of over 80% for No Means of Payment cases and more than 90% for valid drive-offs.

Being able to request information via the DVLA’s KADOE service, Payment Watch will be able to operate with greater speed and precision, returning lost revenue to retailers more efficiently than before.

*Further information is available online at www.bossuk.org