COUNCILS have been told not to use the phrases ‘panic’ or ‘panic buying’ when discussing current fuel supply problems, new documents reveal.

Slides prepared by the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Science Team, seen by the BBC, also advised against using language that ‘morally judges’ those buying petrol.

The government said it was working ‘closely with councils … on communications to encourage a coordinated response’.

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The advice to local authorities comes after almost a week of long queues at a petrol station, which were sparked over fears that fuels supplies would be hit.

The fears triggered a surge in demand.

In a PowerPoint presentation, marked ‘official sensitive’ the Cabinet Office warned against using the terms ‘panic’, ‘panic buying’ and ‘stockpilling’.

The document labelled ‘considerations for local authorities’ said that people do not recognise their behaviour as ‘panic buying’.

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It recommended using phrases like ‘filling up earlier than usual’ or ‘changed patterns in demand’ instead.

The presentation also said to avoid using language that morally judges those who ‘stock up’ on fuel as ‘selfish’ or ‘irrational’.

It also said framing those buying excess fuel as taking away from key workers is likely to lead to them feeling like their freedom has been threatened, leading them to engage in more ‘panic buying’ behaviour, the document said.