ALRIGHT SIR, WHERE’S THE FIRE??

THE POLICE PERSPECTIVEOF ARSON, PREVENTION,& INVESTIGATION.

What do the Police know about What do the Police know about arson?arson?

● ● Not much – low level crime.Not much – low level crime.

● ● Denmark street 38 deaths Denmark street 38 deaths

Mass Murder ?Mass Murder ?

Crime statisticsCrime statistics● ● Reading with Wokingham Police Area = Reading with Wokingham Police Area = 2 unitary authorities : 295,000 people2 unitary authorities : 295,000 people

● ● April – Sept ’03 : 20,000 crimesApril – Sept ’03 : 20,000 crimes

● ● Key BVPI crimes Key BVPI crimes Burglary Dwelling : 1700 (Ouch! +30%)Burglary Dwelling : 1700 (Ouch! +30%) Violent crime : 2900 (Ouch! +16%)Violent crime : 2900 (Ouch! +16%) Vehicle crime : 4700 (Phew! – 4%)Vehicle crime : 4700 (Phew! – 4%)

● ● Arson offences : 95 (Ouch! +19%)Arson offences : 95 (Ouch! +19%) only accounts for ½ % of all our crime!!only accounts for ½ % of all our crime!!

● ● Berks Fire figures for arson : 460Berks Fire figures for arson : 460

● ● This large discrepancy is also seen This large discrepancy is also seen nationally – nationally –

Police figures last year = 66,000 ( < 1%) Police figures last year = 66,000 ( < 1%) Fire Service ” ” ” = 200,000Fire Service ” ” ” = 200,000

ArsonArson

Disparity & NCRSDisparity & NCRS

● ● Recording and measurement differencesRecording and measurement differences

● ● NCRS – all reports of incidents recorded NCRS – all reports of incidents recorded Incident recorded as a crime if it is more Incident recorded as a crime if it is more

likely than not that a crime has been likely than not that a crime has been committed and there is no credible committed and there is no credible evidence to the contraryevidence to the contrary

● ● Malicious & doubtful v. deliberate & Malicious & doubtful v. deliberate & suspicious suspicious

Classification/Points to proveClassification/Points to prove

Arson if - Arson if -

● ● without lawful excusewithout lawful excuse

● ● damages or destroys another’s property damages or destroys another’s property by fireby fire

● ● with intent to do so or being reckless as with intent to do so or being reckless as to whether property would be to whether property would be damaged /destroyeddamaged /destroyed

● ● without lawful excusewithout lawful excuse

● ● damages or destroys ANY propertydamages or destroys ANY property

● ● intending to do so or being reckless as intending to do so or being reckless as to whether the property would be to whether the property would be destroyed or damageddestroyed or damaged

● ● AND intending to endanger life by AND intending to endanger life by doing so or being reckless as to doing so or being reckless as to whether life would be endangeredwhether life would be endangered

Arson with intent to endanger life ifArson with intent to endanger life if

●● Reckless about what you did – if you Reckless about what you did – if you were aware that a risk existed or would were aware that a risk existed or would exist regarding your deedsexist regarding your deeds

● ● Reckless about the result of what you Reckless about the result of what you did – if you were aware of the risk that did – if you were aware of the risk that the result would occur and from what the result would occur and from what was known to you it was unreasonable was known to you it was unreasonable to take that riskto take that risk

New definition of recklessness – New definition of recklessness – R v. G. & R. – House of Lords 16/10/03R v. G. & R. – House of Lords 16/10/03

Successful Prosecutions Y2KSuccessful Prosecutions Y2K

● ● Of the 2,500 charged with arson – Of the 2,500 charged with arson –

● ● 88% male (40% boys aged 10 -17)88% male (40% boys aged 10 -17)

● ● 12% female12% female

● ● 1,600 found guilty (64%)1,600 found guilty (64%)

● ● 500 imprisoned (10 MHA hospital 500 imprisoned (10 MHA hospital orders)orders)

● ● Remainder subject to community Remainder subject to community sentencessentences

Offender ProfilesOffender Profiles

General –General –

● ● Deprived parental backgroundDeprived parental background

● ● Low educational statusLow educational status

● ● Inferior employment recordInferior employment record

● ● Possible history of sex abusePossible history of sex abuse

● ● Lack of self-confidence / self-esteem Lack of self-confidence / self-esteem

Young ArsonistsYoung Arsonists

● ● Curious – younger with low impulse controlCurious – younger with low impulse control

● ● Troubled – youth with an arson history who has Troubled – youth with an arson history who has experienced recent trauma/crisisexperienced recent trauma/crisis

● ● Delinquent – youth with poor interpersonal skills, Delinquent – youth with poor interpersonal skills, impulsive & irresponsibleimpulsive & irresponsible

● ● Strategic – youth with a criminal record who Strategic – youth with a criminal record who regards legal consequences as a jokeregards legal consequences as a joke

● ● Pathological – rare – youth with emotional & Pathological – rare – youth with emotional & behavioural problems – loners. behavioural problems – loners.

Motivation - generalMotivation - general

● ● Youth disorder & nuisanceYouth disorder & nuisance

● ● MaliciousnessMaliciousness

● ● PsychologicalPsychological

● ● CriminalCriminal

Arson PreventionArson Prevention

● ● Partnership – Fire Service at the helmPartnership – Fire Service at the helm

● ● Local Authority – Big part to play – Local Authority – Big part to play –

Social / Youth / Leisure / Environmental / Social / Youth / Leisure / Environmental / Housing / Regeneration / Planning / Transport / Housing / Regeneration / Planning / Transport / FinanceFinance

● ● Who else?Who else?

NHW, Victim support, YOTS, Probation, Media, NHW, Victim support, YOTS, Probation, Media, Schools / LEA, Business, Crimestoppers & Schools / LEA, Business, Crimestoppers & Police !!! Police !!!

● ● Data / IntelligenceData / Intelligence

● ● Investigation & EnforcementInvestigation & Enforcement

● ● Design out crime adviceDesign out crime advice

● ● Schools & Community LiaisonSchools & Community Liaison

● ● Management of truantsManagement of truants

What can the PoliceWhat can the Police provideprovide??

What works to prevent arson ?What works to prevent arson ?

● ● Target hardeningTarget hardening

● ● Targeted enforcementTargeted enforcement

● ● Targeted educationTargeted education

● ● Targeted treatment Targeted treatment

Arson investigationArson investigation

● ● Level of priority mismatchLevel of priority mismatch● ● Control rooms - different emphasisControl rooms - different emphasis● ● Common Approach Path (CAP)Common Approach Path (CAP)● ● First officer on scene First officer on scene ● ● ObservationObservation● ● Scene preservationScene preservation● ● Evidence recognitionEvidence recognition● ● Record, record, record!!!Record, record, record!!!

Police investigationPolice investigation

● ● Call handling & initial responseCall handling & initial response● ● Scene assessment, preservation & Scene assessment, preservation &

examinationexamination● ● Evidence gatheringEvidence gathering● ● Witness managementWitness management● ● Suspect enquiries / handling Suspect enquiries / handling ● ● Post charge activitiesPost charge activities● ● File preparation and trialFile preparation and trial

CPIA 1996 - DisclosureCPIA 1996 - Disclosure

● ● Duty of care re all reasonable enquiriesDuty of care re all reasonable enquiries

● ● Record / retain / reveal all materialRecord / retain / reveal all material

● ● Relevance to fire investigatorsRelevance to fire investigators

How can we improve?How can we improve?

● ● Arson task forcesArson task forces

● ● Information sharingInformation sharing

● ● Training – joint initiativesTraining – joint initiatives