Arson Prevention Forum

What is the Arson Prevention Forum

• The Arson Prevention Forum brings together three strategic funding partnersThe National Police Chiefs CouncilThe Chief Fire Officers AssociationThe Association of British Insurers

• The APF works together toDevelop best practice guidance in arson prevention and investigation;Commissioning arson-related researchHelping to develop better relationships and improved liaison between different

agencies

Process mapping deliberate fires & prosecution

Quality Inn Hotel

Building Design

• 10 storey hotel

• 101 bedrooms

• City centre setting overlooking the Solent

• Built in 1973

• The hotel closed in January 2014

• August 2015, Owners given days to fully secure derelict premise or face legal action

• Building attracts ‘Urban explorers’

Agency Involvement

• Fire & Rescue Service• Police• Ambulance Service• City council• Investigating departments

• CPS•Magistrates court• BRE

Incidents Attended

• The local Fire & Rescue Service attended this property 18 times within a 3 ½ year timeframe

• Between 13th May 15 – 8th August 15 the fire service attended 5 significant fires at the premises costing in excess of £60k

• Between April 1st– July 27th

2015 The Police attended 38 additional incidents

Security

• The premises was not fully secure, and allowed children and arsonists to enter the premises.

• Significant asbestos risk to trespassers following fires

• Risk of contamination to surrounding premises and public during fire incidents

• Vagrants taking residence within premises at risk

• Perimeter fencing damaged and broken• Emergency services called “every week”

during April-May 2015

Risks to Public & Service

• Asbestos• Unsafe structure • Hypodermic needles• Missing floorboards/joists• Vandalism impacting on fire

protection• Unsafe electrics and services• Debris falling from height• Surrounding area littered with

hazardous materials

Outcomes to date

• 3 teenagers all aged 16 years arrested for suspicion of Arson (May 2015)

• Released on bail to reappear on June 30th with outcomes to be delivered soon

• Building owners have been issued with an ‘Untidy Land Notice’ by the local Council to be actioned by August 10th 2015

Costs associated with Arson

• Total cost of fire in England est. at £8.3bn• The cost of Arson was £1.7 bn

(14%) of the total cost• This is broken down further as

consequence £1,178m and cost for response £524m

• e-mail stoparsonuk@dsfire.gov.uk

• The Average cost of an arson incident is £8,978

• The Association of British Insurers members pay out over £1.1bn each year in fire claims

The impact of arson on the community

www.stoparsonuk.org

Arson Prevention Forum

www.stoparsonuk.org