Theft: Best practice 15 th June 2009

2 Best practice should extend across the process Investigation and detection. Data collection. Reconnection. These agreed actions should be contained within a Code of Practice. The Code of Practice should sit within an area of governance with assurance processes to ensure compliance.

3 Make safe Where theft is discovered and the meter or pipework has been interfered with, the supply should be disconnected immediately. –Safety is paramount. Theft of gas is committed by tampering with or bypassing the gas installation(s) on site. This act is (by its very nature) liable to result in safety issues on site. –Gas leaking during or following the tamper or bypass. –Inherent controls of the installation equipment being circumvented. Risk to the perpetrator and their family / employees and those living in the immediate vicinity.

4 Costs borne by those that steal Suppliers should pursue the thief for the assessed value of gas stolen and the costs of the associated investigation. In order to deter people from stealing gas, a situation must be reached where there is no profit to be made from theft. This will also ensure that the costs of theft are met by those who commit it, and are not passed on to other, law abiding, customers. Reconnection should only follow once appropriate repayment arrangements have been made. –Payment of costs should be made in full, unless exceptional circumstances (e.g. vulnerability).

5 Ensure no illegal reconnection Where a customer has demonstrated both the means and know- how to steal gas, it is possible that they will re-offend at some point in future. –Especially true if they remain disconnected for a period of time after the detection whilst charges are recovered. Suppliers should revisit the premises within a reasonable period of time after the detection in order to ensure the customer has not committed a subsequent act of theft. Failure to do this will –Present a significant safety issue for those living in the immediate vicinity. –Result in an increase in the amount of theft and therefore the costs borne by law abiding customers.

6 Collect and report data When theft is detected, it is important that information relating to that detection is shared throughout the industry. –Transparency of supplier’s actions in detecting theft within the industry. –Enable a picture of where theft is perpetrated, how it occurs, whether theft is increasing or decreasing, the value of theft detected and how each of these items changes over time. This information will be vital in informing the proactive theft detection strategies of all suppliers. Items to be collected referenced in this group’s work on Information Sharing.

7 Networks collate and issue data Once data is collected, it is important that it is then collated in to usable reports and provided back to the industry. Transparency over who is doing what in terms of theft detection Provide a picture of where theft is perpetrated, how theft occurs, whether theft is increasing or decreasing, and the value of theft detected. This information is vital if proactive theft detection strategies are to be properly informed. Costs incurred can be recoverable from shippers?

8 Enable theft reporting Routes to report theft not well known right now. Suppliers should provide and advertise the means for members of the public to report theft. –Potential for one national number, funded by industry? This will not only enable suppliers to be reactive as well as proactive in their detection activities, but also serve to publicise the issue of theft more widely.

9 Stolen meters Stolen meters are circulated widely, and can be used to replace the official meter during the course of the theft of gas. When a supplier or their agent identifies that a meter has been stolen or has been mislaid, they must make that information public in order to aide future theft detection. Stolen Meters register should be created and maintained. This will assist suppliers in assessing whether a “found” meter is on site as a result of theft or a previously unknown meter exchange. When a supplier finds a stolen meter it is important that it is recovered and returned to the owner in order to prevent its use in future theft.

10 Landlords responsibility Where a tenant absconds following a theft, the landlord should be held accountable for the costs associated with the theft. Little difference between meter interference and other damages to fixtures and fittings. Prevents landlords turning a blind eye to the crimes of their tenants. Prevents the excuse that the theft was the responsibility of a fictional ex-tenant.