Authorities fight IIMERRIM against laundering
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By Roger Brown HMRC, Vosa and the traffic commissioners (TCs) are stepping up their fight against fuel laundering and hauliers who illegally use rebated diesel.
The parties have agreed a new protocol that should result in an increase in the number of such cases being referred by HMRC officers to the TCs, as well as the transport regulation unit in Northern Ireland. The existing reporting discrepancy was highlighted in CM'S investigation into rebated diesel last week (31 January).
Last year HMRC discovered 25 fuel laundering sites in the UK —22 of them in Northern Ireland.
Geoff Dunning, Road Haulage Association chief executive, said the new protocol represents a "radical and much-needed improvement" in the co-ordination of the enforcement and regulatory effort.
He added: "It should mean a transformation in reporting — and it is vital that is what happens in practice.
"I am much encouraged by HMRC's assurance that it shares the RHA's determination to eliminate non-compliance in respect of fuel duty and the damaging impact it has on legitimate hauliers."