Energy Secretary accused of 'legitimising' fuel theft after suggesting sharp rise in cases is linked to the cost-of-living

Andy Burnham's new Energy Secretary has been accused of 'legitimising' a surge in petrol station fuel thefts by linking it to the UK's cost of living problems. Miatta Fahnbulleh, who replaced Net Zero enthusiast Ed Miliband after his promotion to Foreign Secretary, was challenged today over a sharp rise in forecourt thefts.And she suggested it was at least partly prompted by energy firm price hikes - leading to criticism from Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice, accusing Labour of being 'soft on crime'.The furore comes after it was revealed how drivers have stolen £200,000 worth of fuel each day from UK forecourts amid a hike in prices sparked by the Iran war.Thefts have leapt by 20 per cent in the five months since the conflict began on February 28, compared to the previous same length of time.The value of stolen fuel rose by 48 per cent, reaching an estimated daily average of £194,000 across the UK's 8,359 forecourts. Ms Fahnbulleh was asked about the figures on LBC radio by host Nick Ferrari and replied by saying: 'We're very, very conscious of this issue and this is something that obviously we're working on alongside the Home Office, who in the end will be the ones dealing with crime, any sort of theft.'But it speaks to the point that, you know, people are under huge pressure with the cost of energy, with the cost of fuel. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, who replaced Net Zero enthusiast Ed Miliband after his promotion to Foreign Secretary, was asked today about a surge in forecourt thefts A motorist is seen filling fuel into a plastic container. Thefts have soared by 20 per cent in the five months since the Iran conflict began in February compared to the previous period'We are monitoring the cost of fuel very, very closely. We understand that the cost of fuel is far too expensive and that people are really worried about it.'When questioned further, Ms Fahnbulleh said: 'Yes, it is theft and we're seeing different forms of theft across the piece.'We know we've got, for example, an epidemic in shoplifting and that’s something we’re absolutely trying to get a grip of.'There is never any justification for it. But what I am particularly exercised about is the thing that many of your listeners will be, which is the cost of fuel, which we know we need to get a grip on.'Mr Tice, Reform UK's energy spokesman as well as deputy leader to Nigel Farage, told the Telegraph: 'The Secretary of State for Energy appears to be legitimising theft on the basis that the cost of living crisis, partly caused by Labour, is too great.'This shows Labour are soft on crime. The easiest way to deal with the cost of energy and fuel is to scrap net zero, to get rid of all the ridiculous green levies, reduce the cost of living and reduce inflation. Anybody stealing should be prosecuted.'The latest statistics show that for first-time offenders, there was a 23 per cent rise in incidents and a 26 per cent uplift in the volume of fuel stolen - compared to 17 per cent and 20 per cent respectively among repeat offenders.The figures are based on reports by a representative sample of 550 forecourts, analysed by fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye. Drivers have stolen £200,000 worth of fuel each day from UK forecourts amid a hike in prices sparked by the Iran warThey include drive-offs, when there is no attempt to pay, and no means of payment incidents, when a customer fills up and claims they are unable to do so.Meanwhile, the average price of a litre of petrol went up to 160p last Friday - about 27p more than before the conflict and representing a three-and-a-half year high.The average price of diesel is about 37p per litre higher than before the war, at 179p.British filling stations reported the ongoing US-Iran conflict has triggered a wave of forecourt crime more severe than the fallout from Russia's war with Ukraine, with station owners describing an increasingly 'brazen' atmosphere.Drivers of high-end luxury vehicles, such as Ferraris and Mercedes, are among the cars that have been seen speeding off without payment - sometimes even taunting staff with a wave as they depart.Beyond individual opportunists, organised criminal gangs have reportedly used transit vans equipped with large internal canisters to siphon fuel, effectively acting as 'mobile petrol stations' that resell the stolen goods at a discount from roadside laybys.Forecourt Eye managing director Michelle Henchoz said: 'As offending becomes more organised and more sophisticated, operators need joined-up technology that helps them protect both their forecourt and their convenience store.'Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, which represents independent forecourts, said its members were 'reporting increasing levels of abuse and aggression towards colleagues who are simply doing their jobs and have no influence over the price displayed on the forecourt'. Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Musandam, Oman He added: 'Bringing together technologies that help retailers prevent crime, manage incidents and support police investigations is a positive step for the industry.' Ben Lawrence, a director at Lawrences Garages, owner of five petrol stations in Norfolk and Hampshire, said fuel thefts were historically often carried out by people involved in other crimes - but rises in the cost of living mean this was no longer the case.He said there is a 'misconception' that all forecourts featuring branding from energy giants such as BP and Shell are operated by those companies, rather than smaller businesses, so some drivers believe it 'doesn't matter' when they fail to pay.He added: 'It does matter to us. When someone drives off (after taking fuel worth) £80-£90, it's hitting us, not the oil companies. We've already purchased it.'Under the Theft Act 1978, driving off is a criminal offense carrying penalties of significant fines or up to two years in prison.Despite the legal stakes, many retailers have ceased reporting incidents to authorities, as the relatively low value of each theft - typically about £50 - results in them being categorised similarly to minor shoplifting.Conviction rates remain minimal, with a Forecourt Trader study revealing the majority of police forces fail to identify suspects in most cases.Official data from the previous year confirms that 'drive-off' thefts surged by nearly 50 per cent in just 12 months, resulting in millions of pounds in losses for the industry.Europe is facing an imminent energy crisis with gas stocks plummeting to historical lows as a result of the war in Iran.Energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie has warned storage sites across the continent are just above 50 per cent full, which is a very low level for this time of year.Previously, storage sites were at 90 per cent capacity, but now, Europe is looking at entering the winter months with only 75 per cent capacity.Wood Mackenzie's vice president of gas research Massimo Di Odoardo cautioned that low storage levels and heightened competition for liquefied natural gas (LNG) would result in higher energy prices in the near future.He said: 'Low European inventories, strong Asian demand and limited new LNG supply growth almost guarantee elevated prices through this winter and into 2027.'LNG imports into Europe have slowed sharply since the outbreak of the Iran war.Imports are on track to total just 6.3million metric tons in July, the lowest since September 2024, according to Kpler.When the Strait of Hormuz briefly opened following the US-Iran interim peace deal in April, many hoped that Qatar - which accounted for around a fifth of global LNG supply before the conflict - would quickly restore exports.But the renewed blockade of the strait in recent weeks amid escalating US-Iran tensions has dashed hopes of that.The European market is thus becoming increasingly alarmed by the combination of low inventories, weak imports and a deteriorating supply outlook.