Rise in illegal fuel garages, say HMRC

Published: 03 June 2013
By Chris Haycock

Popup garages that sell illegally produced fuel have seen a huge rise, although the organisation say that the detection has improved and illegal trade is reducing. HMRC visited 6,506 visits to UK sites in 2012/2013, it says, and found that illegal fuel was sold on 388 occasions at the 'popup' garages, compared with 262 detections in the previous year. Illicit fuel, mostly diesel, is sold substandard after being mixed with cheaper chemicals, and can severely damage a vehicle's engine. The environment is also at risk from the sub-standard fuel. Although HMRC says that the trend in illegal fuel is 'downwards', the President of the AA disagrees, saying that, "We believe that the sales of illicit fuel are on the increase broadly linked to the increase in fuel prices and slump in the economy over the last four to five years. Geographically it has spread from Northern Ireland, to the north of England and now down to the south east."