A practical checklist for preserving information that may assist the responsible assessment of suspected petroleum-industry misconduct.
This guide is educational and does not replace legal, technical, safety or regulatory advice. Always act lawfully and do not place yourself or others at risk.
Why evidence preservation matters
Information loses value when records are altered, samples are contaminated, documents are incomplete or the history of an item cannot be explained. Good evidence handling starts with preserving what already exists.
Preserve records
- Keep original invoices, delivery notes and correspondence.
- Record dates, times, locations and people involved.
- Keep original photographs and files where possible.
- Do not edit documents or overwrite original records.
- Record where information came from.
Fuel-related evidence
- Record product details, supplier, vehicle, station, depot or delivery information.
- Preserve receipts and transaction records.
- Use qualified testing where appropriate.
- Do not collect samples if doing so creates a safety or legal risk.
Chain of custody principles
A useful record should explain what happened, who handled information, when it occurred and how the information was preserved.
Do not investigate unlawfully
Do not trespass, access restricted systems, impersonate others, intercept communications or place yourself in danger to obtain evidence.
Need to report?
If you have information about suspected petroleum misconduct, use the secure Report Fuel reporting portal.