The Growing Crisis of Stolen Cooking Oil in Scotland
Police Reports: In a troubling turn of events, police in Scotland have uncovered a rise in the theft of used cooking oil from local chip shops, takeaways, and restaurants. The stolen oil is often stored in outdoor containers, ready for collection and recycling into biodiesel, a renewable fuel utilized in various vehicles, including buses and tractors.
Rising Incidents of Theft
Between April and October of the previous year, a staggering 178 incidents of cooking oil theft were recorded across the country. The city of Inverness alone accounted for approximately 20 of those incidents, highlighting a growing concern for the local business community.
Local Business Owner’s Shocking Experience
Grant Cranston, co-owner of the Hilton Chip Shop in Inverness, expressed his dismay at the audacity of the thieves. “It was broad daylight. There were people walking around,” Cranston recounted during an interview with BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme. After reading reports of similar thefts, he reviewed his shop’s CCTV footage and discovered that someone had stolen the oil from the waste bin, which had been moved just 30 minutes prior to his review. To his knowledge, his shop has only been targeted once.
The Value of Used Cooking Oil
The growing value of used cooking oil can be attributed to its role in biodiesel production, with government statistics indicating that approximately 70% of the UK’s biodiesel is derived from this waste product. Businesses can earn around 30p per litre, based on the oil’s quantity and quality. Alarmingly, it’s estimated that the UK Treasury loses about £25 million annually in unpaid duties due to these criminal activities.
Community Impact and Responses
Chief Inspector Craig Still, the area commander for Inverness, emphasized the broader implications of these crimes, including the inconvenience caused to businesses, potential property damage, and lost income. He noted that organized crime groups are frequently behind these thefts, with stolen oil sometimes resold to legitimate recyclers, contributing further to the cycle of crime.
Wider Trends Across the UK
This epidemic is not confined to Scotland; similar thefts have been reported in various parts of the UK, including Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. Cranston added that these incidents add further strain to the fish and chip sector, which is already grappling with increasing costs and VAT pressures. “You put that out there for it to go away and to be recycled, kind of doing your bit for the environment,” he remarked, underscoring the commitment of businesses to responsible disposal practices.
Image: Seafish
