An interim analysis of unpaid fuel reports for April 2026, by BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, has revealed a continued rise in reports of unpaid fuel, following a sharp increase in reports the previous month.

Data from BOSS Payment Watch, shows that, after a 19% surge in March, reported incidents of unpaid fuel rose by a further 3% during April, following a period of rising fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

BOSS continues to monitor trends closely as external economic and geopolitical factors impact both fuel pricing and customer behaviour at forecourts across the UK.

Claire Nichol, Executive Director at BOSS, commented: “As forecourts become busier and customer behaviour continues to evolve, preventing fuel-related losses remains a priority for every forecourt operator. Unpaid fuel reports have continued to rise in recent weeks, so forecourt operators should remain vigilant for unusual activity at the pumps and ensure that customers entering stores pay for fuel.”

BOSS is urging forecourt operators to maintain robust procedures and be aware of suspicious activity, particularly during periods of increased demand and price volatility.

The 2026 Q1 Forecourt Crime Index rose to 219, up 4% on Q4 2025, marking a sustained upward trend since Q3 last year following a prolonged decline through 2024 and early 2025.