Arson is a major cause of concern for the insurers, delegates attending the National Security Inspectorate’s (NSI) series of seminars for insurers and insurance brokers heard.
Presenting an insurance perspective at the first of 11 UK-wide seminars in Belfast recently, Steve Clark, Crime Technical Manager, Royal & SunAlliance commented that with more than 2,000 property arson attacks per week in the UK, arson accounted for more than half the insured commercial fire losses.
Steve argued that the security industry could do more to help. Security risk assessments by both systems and guarding companies could provide the customer with a better understanding of the risk of arson, and how a co-ordinated systems/guarding solution can do much to reduce it.
Two recent developments offer the opportunity of a much more co-ordinated approach to tackling the problem. Firstly, remotely-monitored CCTV systems can now qualify for URN’s enabling external surveillance systems to achieve level one police response. CCTV surveillance of car parks and yards adjoining business premises, schools, etc., together with audio challenge, can have a vital role to play in deterring arson, particularly with so many arson fires being started externally (eg in waste bins or skips close to buildings). Secondly, the new European Standards, which must be adopted this year, require intruder alarm installers to conduct a structured and detailed risk assessment as part of the system design process (DD CLC/TS50131-7-Application Guidelines).
What they say
Steve added, “We urge the security industry to pay attention to the threat of arson, as well as that of burglary, when conducting their risk assessments. In addition to awakening customers’ consciousness of the arson issue, the process will benefit security companies by demonstrating their professionalism and potentially lead to increased sales of both internal and external security solutions to combat arson.”
The seminars, featuring insurance industry and NSI speakers focusing on the latest security and fire issues, run until March 18 in Glasgow.
