As a business owner, you have many problems to face on your business journey. Think about the threat of arson to your premises and arson prevention? What, you never have! Well, you are not on your own. However, arson is a considerable threat to your business and your safety and that of your staff and customers.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), arson offences reached 323 incidents for the year April 2019-2020. As a result, more businesses are looking to protect themselves from arson and its effects. This guide will give you some insight into arson and also some interesting facts. The most important thing is not to become one of the many statistics highlighted in this guide.
Aegis carried out further research and I was shocked to discover the following information. We thought it would be useful to share some arson prevention tips at the end.
The annual cost of arson within England and Wales is around £2 billion pounds with losses in the commercial sector accounting for two-thirds of that amount. As a result, many insurance companies are stating that suitable fire safety measures are in place prior to offering insurance.
The act of arson is legally taken from the Criminal Damage Act 1971 (Sections 1-3) You can find the full criminal damage act here.
The crown prosecution service define arson as:
Arson
Where property is destroyed or damaged by fire, arson should be charged – see Section 1(3) of the Act. Section 1(1) and (3) provides that arson is committed if a person without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property by fire, intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged.
For offences involving “simple arson” the property of another must be damaged.
Arson is triable either way – para.29, Schedule 1 MCA 1980. Section 22 MCA 1980 does not apply to arson. Section 4 Criminal Damage Act 1971 sets out a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for this offence.
Aggravated criminal damage and aggravated Arson
Aggravated criminal damage is set out at s.1(2) and aggravated arson is at s.1(2) and (3) Criminal Damage Act 1971. The aggravated offences require proof of an intent to destroy or damage any property. Or being reckless as to whether any property would be destroyed or damaged. And intending by the destruction or damage to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.
Section 4 Criminal Damage Act 1971 sets out a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for aggravated criminal damage and aggravated arson. The offences are only triable on indictment.
If the damage is committed by fire, the offence is charged as arson with intent or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.
So now that we understand what arson is and how it is defined in our legal system, and some statistics to back that up. Let us have a look at some interesting facts about arson.
Interesting facts about arson!
Arson has been with us in various forms since the dawn of humankind and the discovery of fire. As a result, early reports of arson relating to fire starters causing damage to premises is widespread. Some early reports refer to fraudulent claims on insurance!
In the 1950s,1960s and 70s the techniques of fire prevention were not as well developed as we see today. As a result, the reporting of arson fires was mainly categorised as an unknown origin. It is only later during the 1970s that investigation techniques improved and arson fires were documented. As a result, it is important to note during the same period the instances of unknown origin reporting of fires reduced!
In 2005 arson accounted for 26% of all fires. This has since seen a reduction trend to the levels we see today.
Each year in the UK on average around 1,600 farm buildings and 85,000 acres of grassland are destroyed by fire. AS a result remote farms and farming communities can be placed in an at-risk category.
Around 40% of these fires are started deliberately, many as an act of mindless vandalism. (Source East Sussex FRS)
Arson remains the largest single cause of fire in England and Wales. The human cost has also been high. In the last decade, there have been around 2.3 million deliberate fires resulting in over 25,000 injuries and over 900 deaths.
In an average week in England, arson results in:-
- 1600 deliberately set primary fires
- 50 injuries
- 2 deaths
Source: Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service.
Arson facts
Juveniles are more prone to starting fires, within the UK. Particularly 14-18 year olds.
The top 10 places most arson cases occur at are:
- Dwellings
- Retail premises
- Factories
- Food and drink industry
- Educational premises
- Places of worship
- National and local government buildings
- Motor trade premises
- Sport and recreational buildings
As a result these do not make the top ten, offices, chemical industry,laboratories,engineering premises. These are still important premises and must be safeguarded against arson.
Arson prevention tips
Conduct a fire risk assessment for your premises. This is a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. When conducting a fire risk assessment the following sections are assessed with regard to arson. If you feel you are at serious risk of an arson attack then an arson risk assessment should be conducted.
- Awareness of the vulnerability to an arson attack
- What security measures are in place to deter or prevent trespassers/ intruders from entering the premises.
- If security is breached how likely is it that a trespasser /intruder will be detected.
- Is there sufficient control of sources of ignition.
- Is there control of easily ignitable materials (bin storage areas etc)
- Do you have fire detection measures present to allow early warning of a fire?
- Is there a suitable provision of fire extinguishing systems.
- Does the premises have suitable compartmentation – this will contain the fire and its effects in certain areas to allow escape.
- Does high-value stock/ items have suitable protection from fire and its effects?
- What is the general competence of staff in regards to fire safety (training, drills, safety culture)
Many arson attacks are caused by frustrated thieves, and disgruntled employees! As a result have you considered the security and fire safety of your premises?
Arson prevention tips continued
Your premises may face an increased risk of arson if it is located near to where crowds gather such as football grounds etc. Or if your premises are in an isolated location. Also, inner-city areas are more prone to attack.
Conduct a risk of arson assessment. This assessment places the sole focus upon arson by assessing the vulnerability of the premises. As a result, the report will identify fire hazards, potential arsonists and people at risk. Resulting in eliminating or reducing the risk of arson. The report will also identify security provisions. Fire safety provisions will also be highlighted to allow a preparation or review of your emergency plan. This should be regularly reviewed.
Consider these arson prevention tips
Consideration should be given to your business activities and general standing in the local community. Could your business become a target?
Inform and educate staff about the possibility of arson. Monitor changes in behaviour and attitude, as a result this could lead to increased staff vigilance at times.
Ensure all staff receive fire safety training and conduct regular fire safety drills. As a result, this will offer a higher level of preparedness to deal with an emergency.
Avoid stacking goods/ waste bins etc close to your boundary area as this could assist an intruder/trespasser to gain entry onto your premises. As a result, this will contribute to less combustible material being readily available.
Ensure all security fencing and equipment is in a good state of repair. As a result this will offer increased security for your premises.
All flammable liquids and gases etc must be stored away from buildings. This will result in a limited amount of accelerants being readily available on the premises.
Do not store waste bins (combustible material) within 5m of your building(s). Fit all waste containers with a lock. Ensure these waste bins are not obstructing escape routes or access to fire safety equipment.
Consider your letterbox! Purchase a fireproof letterbox to reduce the risk of arson by someone trying to set a fire using that method. A simple firework or lighter fluid through a letterbox can cause serious harm and property damage. I was reading last week about an incident of this type here.
Ensure all equipment such as vehicles, fuel pumps etc are closed down with no access or power. As a result this will limit the amount of heat sources and highly flammable equipment available at your premises.
Staff can be potential arsonists!
Ensure all staff are aware of the fire procedures for your premises. This will result in a higher chance of a safe and fast evacuation if required.
Create a robust closedown procedure prior to closing your building(s). This should include checks on external doors and windows. No person is left on the premises. Intruder alarms are switched on. We have all at some stage forgotten to do this, sometimes it may help to have a written close down procedure.
Liaise with your local fire and rescue service for advice and early warning of an arsonist/ fire setter operating in your area. A a result this will open a fire safety information channel into your premises. That said it is recommended to have your fire safety systems and plans in place before you invite them around for a cup of tea!
Fire Action Plan and Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan
Ensure your premises has a fire action plan. This is the plan which is implemented when a fire occurs at your premises. All staff should be aware of the plan and trained to implement it. If you have people with any mobility disabilities, either permanent or temporary, you must have a FEEP. A FEEP (Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan) is a bespoke plan for an individual in the event of a fire. As a result, staff may be delegated to assist this person to safely escape the premises.
Investigate all fires no matter how small or insignificant. This may be an indication of future intent or a failed arson attempt. Investigate fire extinguisher discharges on your premises, have you had an unreported fire? I find this more common than I feel comfortable with. 90% of the time the owner is not aware of fire extinguisher discharges as small fires often go unreported by staff. As a result, your premises could be at higher risk of a fire event due to the premises not having a good fire safety culture.
Further considerations to prevent arson!
Is your building(s) in a good state of repair. Buildings in poor state of repair make it easier for an arsonist to gain entry. The fire retardant properties of certain areas may be compromised. As a result fire doors may not be correctly fitting, or smoke stop devices will not function correctly.
Are your premises open throughout the day to members of the public? This could result in a high number of people being unaccounted for during a fire. Also the security implications of this could mean you are at a greater risk of arson.
How many points of entry exist to your premises. Do you use all of them? Are they left open throughout the day? As a result both security and fire safety could be compromised.
Has there been a recent spate of burglaries in your local area.
Do you have items of value on display? Shop windows, trophy rooms etc.
Fire Safety Equipment
Has your premises been fitted with fire prevention equipment? Fire retardant material fitted, sprinkler systems, sufficient allocation of portable fire extinguishers. As a result of having regularly maintained fire prevention equipment, the chances of fire are significantly reduced.
Has your building(s) had a recent fire risk assessment in the last two years? As a result of an assessment, fire safety significant findings will be highlighted. Rectification of these findings will add to the effectiveness of your fire prevention plan.
Do you have a system in place to monitor the arrival and departure of visitors? How do you know who is on your premises? I have seen many systems for accounting for visitors, some extremely good and then others at the other end of the spectrum. Can you guarantee that you can account for everyone inside your premises at any given time? Perhaps a review of your fire safety procedures is recommended.
Will your premises be visited by people with a grievance towards your organisation? gambling establishments and licensed premises are top of the list. Also consider disgruntled restaurant customers etc. Does your business cause distress to animals, other humans etc?
Fire Safety on Construction Sites
Two-thirds of all fires on construction sites are started deliberately! If you are in the construction industry do not become complacent to fire and its effects. Construction sites are vulnerable during the final phase of construction when fitting out is taking place. As a result of there, very nature construction sites change in layout and fire safety measures need to be under constant review. Security can also be an issue in heavily populated areas.
Vehicles should be parked in well lit areas covered by CCTV if possible. This will deter arson attacks on vehicles.
If your building is empty for a period of time, ensure measures are taken to secure it. Empty building(s) are tempting targets for anti-social behaviour which could result in fire.
What next?
I hope that you have found this information useful. Hopefully it has caused a reaction, or a call to action to review or improve your fire safety provision against the real threat of arson. If you would like further information about how you can protect your premises from arson or fire in general please contact us. We will be happy to assist with your fire safety compliance. Stay safe.