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Emergency services, councils and local people must work together on early intervention with young, potential fire-setters if we are to rid our streets of the blight of burnt-out buildings and vehicles, according to a Government minister.
Speaking at the second national conference of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister -sponsored Arson Control Forum, Jim Fitzpatrick, the recently appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for fire and rescue – himself a former fire fighter – said the fight against deliberate fire-setting was part of the Government’s drive to create better and safer communities in which to live and work.
What they say
He said: "The sight of burnt-out properties and burnt-out vehicles on the street adds to people’s feelings of fear and insecurity. We know it can seriously affect their well-being and quality of life. Every time people go out of their front door the problem confronts them. This can demoralise the whole neighbourhood."
Arson is behind more than half of all the primary fires in the UK today causing 100 needless deaths and 2,500 injuries a year, according to the Government. Motives range from revenge, fraud, and crime concealment to vandalism and fire-play.
Poorest communities are hardest hit, with those on low incomes 31 times more likely to be affected by deliberate fire-setting and sixteen times more likely to die as a result of such a fire.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: "We want to change that and make sure that no one is at greater risk because of where they live. That is why two years ago we began a series of wide-ranging reforms to the Fire and Rescue Service which are now having an impact on fire safety and arson prevention. And we have introduced legislation in other areas so we can tackle the issues in a co-ordinated and effective way."
Mr Fitzpatrick, who was speaking on the first day of Child Safety Week, added that the fight against arson was linked to the Government’s overall strategy of combating anti-social behaviour, especially among young people. The majority of arson attacks appear to be committed by a small group of prolific offenders, the authorities say, many of whom are under 18 and also commit other offences.
Fire and rescue services across the country already do some youth intervention work aimed at children with an excessive interest in fire-play or adolescents whose fire-setting behaviour is linked to other forms of anti-social behaviour such as vandalism, the ODPM says.
The speech with briefing on the conference and including the latest Arson Control Forum research reports is available:
