As a taxi driver providing transport service to the public, we face endless fare dodging with no police support. The police say it's a 'civil matter'.

Since when did theft stop being a crime and become a civil matter?

There has not been any changes to the Theft Act 1978, Chapter 31, Section 3 that allows such offences to be treated as a civil matter so why is it not enforced by the police as a criminal offence instead of a civil matter?

If someone filled up their vehicle with fuel and drove off, the response from the police is immediate or treated as a civil matter (depending on which police force area it is committed in). Why doesn't ALL police forces treat ALL non-payment as a criminal offence in accordance with Theft Act 1978, Chapter 31, Section 3? Here is a link (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/31/section/3 and quotation of the legislation that is not being practiced by the police forces:

"Theft Act 1978, Chapter 31, Section 3: Making off without payment.
(1)Subject to subsection (3) below, a person who, knowing that payment on the spot for any goods supplied or service done is required or expected from him, dishonestly makes off without having paid as required or expected and with intent to avoid payment of the amount due shall be guilty of an offence.

(2)For purposes of this section “payment on the spot” includes payment at the time of collecting goods on which work has been done or in respect of which service has been provided.

(3)Subsection (1) above shall not apply where the supply of the goods or the doing of the service is contrary to law, or where the service done is such that payment is not legally enforceable."

We are told by the police to take money upfront. Do shops & fuel stations ask for money upfront before you purchase? No!! So why should taxi drivers be treated differently to other theft offences? This inequality of justice contributes to the rise in theft crimes as criminals know nothing will be done about it. Even Transport for London have their own police force for dealing with non-payment of travel fares.