VICTORIA, Australia – In what will be an Australian-first and a breakthrough in cracking down on crime, the days of criminals getting away with fuel theft may be coming to an end in Victoria. And according to the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), it won’t be a moment too soon.
The Liberal Party announced last week a tougher stance on crime with a proposal to treat petrol theft, where criminal intent can be established, as a criminal matter and not a civil matter. AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the strong position is very welcome and represents a new line in the sand in dealing with the spiraling incidences of crime against convenience stores.
“We have always supported the hard work of Victoria Police officers who, like the rest of the community, recognize the increasing incidence of crimes against convenience stores. But to date, Victoria Police has not had the support and resources needed from the Victorian Government and the judiciary,” Rogut said.
He continued that the policy outlined by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Shadow Police Minister Ed O'Donohue “seeks to address this dangerous oversight and is welcomed by the convenience sector … Only through a zero-tolerance approach can we hope to create an environment in which crimes against convenience store owners and staff are genuinely deterred. We commend the Opposition’s intention to take a tougher stand on petrol theft,” Rogut said.
The measures announced by the Opposition include plans to establish a Victoria Police centrally administered fuel drive-off online reporting system, the introduction of a specific offence code to the Crimes Act 1958 detailing fuel drive-off, and an improved information sharing system between Victoria Police and VicRoads to quickly identify stolen number plates.
According to the AACS State of the Industry Report, petrol theft costs the convenience industry upwards of $66 million nationally. On average, each service station in Australia loses around $186 per week as a result of this crime.
In Victoria, the AACS has publicly urged the Police Minister to engage with the convenience industry to understand the reality of the trauma inflicted on people when petrol theft and other robberies occur, but to no avail. Aside from petrol, tobacco is another regular target of violent robberies committed against convenience stores, due to excessive excise taxes that make the price of legal tobacco in Australia among the most expensive in the world.
The AACS has called for a moratorium on excise tax increases on legal tobacco from the Australian government, and has urged a coordinated response by authorities in tackling the huge illicit tobacco market plaguing communities nationwide.
“The community has been horrified by recent crimes against convenience retailers and these cannot continue to go unchecked,” Rogut said, adding, “The Opposition’s proposal is a step in the right direction towards zero tolerance and we commend Guy and O’Donohue on the hard line they’re taking on crime.”
Last year’s Victorian government report into fuel drive-offs was met with disappointment by AACS members, with the recommendations glossing over widespread calls for a proper deterrent for repeat offenders.
“The industry was presented a series of empty recommendations that either ignored the small business perspective, or simply reinforced actions the industry had already independently taken,” Rogut said. “Our retailers are at the forefront of this issue, they see it happening each week, they pay the financial cost and at times the human cost, all while trying to operate their small businesses. Urgent political and judicial support is needed so Victoria Police can be empowered to truly crack down on crime.”