making London a safer city

Presented byPresented by

Assistant Divisional OfficerAssistant Divisional Officer

Peter MansiPeter Mansi

Fire Investigation TeamFire Investigation Team

Fire and Arson Fire and Arson Investigations …Investigations …

Why Bother?Why Bother?

making London a safer city

‘‘Fire Investigation is Fire Investigation is at the Fore-front of at the Fore-front of

Community Fire Community Fire Safety’Safety’

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Determining the correct Determining the correct origin and cause of a origin and cause of a fire ...fire ...• Allows for future preventative actionAllows for future preventative action– e.g. Juvenile Fire Setterse.g. Juvenile Fire Setters

• Allows for targeting the vulnerableAllows for targeting the vulnerable– e.g. Misuse of electric blanketse.g. Misuse of electric blankets

• Can Lead to Product RecallsCan Lead to Product Recalls• Can Change LegislationCan Change Legislation

– e.g. Kings Cross Firee.g. Kings Cross Fire

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What about Crimes …What about Crimes …•Steal Money = Theft …Steal Money = Theft …•Attack someone = GBH …Attack someone = GBH …•Kill someone = Murder …Kill someone = Murder …•Set a deliberate fire ?Set a deliberate fire ?

making London a safer city

Let’s call it ‘Arson’ ... Let’s call it ‘Arson’ ...

9797%%

making London a safer city

In 2000, Arson Fires in the In 2000, Arson Fires in the United Kingdom …United Kingdom …

• 20% fire casualties20% fire casualties• Killed 90 peopleKilled 90 people• Seriously injured 2,800 peopleSeriously injured 2,800 people• €€2.94bn2.94bn in insurance money in insurance money• €€9.66bn9.66bn true cost true cost

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‘‘Leading the Fight Against Leading the Fight Against Arson’Arson’

• Arson Control Forum 1Arson Control Forum 1stst annual report annual report• Since 1989 in the UK there have been Since 1989 in the UK there have been

– 1.8m arson fires1.8m arson fires– 1,100 deaths1,100 deaths– 22,000 injuries22,000 injuries

• Arson has more than doubled since Arson has more than doubled since 19891989

making London a safer city

Are the Statistics Correct?Are the Statistics Correct?

• What are the reporting What are the reporting mechanisms for ‘mechanisms for ‘arsonarson’ ’ fires?fires?

• How are we addressing this How are we addressing this in London’s 33 boroughs?in London’s 33 boroughs?

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REPORTING & RECORDING REPORTING & RECORDING ……

(in 1 London Area alone)(in 1 London Area alone)London Fire BrigadeLondon Fire Brigade

• 2,000 arson fires 2,000 arson fires (over a 20 month (over a 20 month period)period)

• 200 FIT1 forms to 200 FIT1 forms to the policethe police

• 1,800 NOT reported !1,800 NOT reported !

Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police ServiceService

• 200 FIT1 forms 200 FIT1 forms received from LFBreceived from LFB

• Only 2 were returnedOnly 2 were returned• These were not These were not

recorded as fire crimesrecorded as fire crimes

making London a safer city

What’s the What’s the difference?difference?

London Fire Brigade = 2,000 arson firesLondon Fire Brigade = 2,000 arson fires

Metropolitan Police =Metropolitan Police = 0 arson 0 arson firesfires

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Arson Arson Reduction Reduction

TeamTeam ADO MansiADO Mansi & & CI Matt CI Matt

BellBell

Bark & Dag.

LFB - MPS

Hillingdon

LFB - MPSHavering

LFB - MPS

Harrow

LFB - MPS

Barnet

LFB - MPS

Enfield

LFB - MPSWalth.For

est

LFB - MPS

Redbridge

LFB - MPS

Haringey

LFB - MPS

Islington

LFB - MPSCamden

LFB - MPS Hackney

LFB - MPSNewham

LFB - MPS

Twr Hamlts

LFB - MPS C.o.London

LFB - CoLP

Westminster

LFB - MPS

Kens&Chels

LFB - MPS

Hammrsmth

LFB - MPSEaling

LFB - MPSHounslow

LFB - MPS

Richmond

LFB - MPSKingston

LFB - MPSWandswor

th

LFB - MPS

Lambeth

LFB - MPSCroydon

LFB - MPSMerton

LFB - MPSSutton

LFB - MPS

Southwark

LFB - MPS

Lewisham

LFB - MPS

Bromley

LFB - MPS

Greenwich

LFB - MPSBexley

LFB - MPS

Brent

LFB - MPS

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Communications so far ...Communications so far ...• Borough Arson Liaison OfficersBorough Arson Liaison Officers• Fire & Arson Investigators’ Forum Fire & Arson Investigators’ Forum

(FAIF) - London(FAIF) - London• Memorandum of Understanding Memorandum of Understanding

(MPS)(MPS)• Electronic FIT1 Police Liaison FormElectronic FIT1 Police Liaison Form• International Association of Arson International Association of Arson

Investigators (IAAI) UK ChapterInvestigators (IAAI) UK Chapter• MoU LFB & CrimestoppersMoU LFB & Crimestoppers

making London a safer city

I’ve not finished yet … but I’ve not finished yet … but are thereare there

making London a safer city

Pro-active rather than re-Pro-active rather than re-active …active …• The Fire Brigade has always The Fire Brigade has always

been a good ‘reactive’ servicebeen a good ‘reactive’ service• ‘‘Prevention is better than cure’Prevention is better than cure’• Here is an example of ‘pro-Here is an example of ‘pro-

active’ arson prevention using active’ arson prevention using ‘risk management’‘risk management’

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Vehicle Fires - Health Vehicle Fires - Health Implications …Implications …

• Burns victimsBurns victims– Skin grafts through growing yearsSkin grafts through growing years

• Viton – (hydrofluoric acid)Viton – (hydrofluoric acid)• Gas strutsGas struts• Prop shaftsProp shafts• Broken glassBroken glass• Booby traps such as cylinders …Booby traps such as cylinders …

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Hydrofluoric Hydrofluoric contamination …contamination …

Calcium Calcium gluconate gel gluconate gel injected under injected under removed finger removed finger nailsnails

3 fingers 3 fingers almost lost almost lost to the HF to the HF acid from the acid from the remains of a remains of a car firecar fire

making London a safer city

making London a safer city

making London a safer city

making London a safer city

Where are these vehicles Where are these vehicles from?from?

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The Electronic A/V The Electronic A/V Notfication Form …Notfication Form …

• Developed by the Developed by the Arson Reduction Arson Reduction TeamTeam

• Fire Risk Assessment Fire Risk Assessment addedadded

• Now available for all Now available for all personnel at every personnel at every fire station in Londonfire station in London

making London a safer city

640

759

690

633

679

760784

894

985

788

959

731

882

690

890

707

888

784

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

January February March April May June July August September October

2001

2002

-9.43%

Non-Accidental Vehicle FiresNon-Accidental Vehicle Fires

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• Co-operation with PoliceCo-operation with Police• Co-operation with Local AuthoritiesCo-operation with Local Authorities• Communication with all Fire Communication with all Fire

Investigation Practitioners - F.A.I.F.Investigation Practitioners - F.A.I.F.• Monitor pan-London activitiesMonitor pan-London activities• Input into the loopInput into the loop

And Finally ...And Finally ...

making London a safer city

Assistant Divisional Officer Assistant Divisional Officer

Peter MansiPeter Mansi

Fire Investigation TeamFire Investigation Team

London Fire BrigadeLondon Fire Brigade

peter.mansi@london-fire.gov.ukpeter.mansi@london-fire.gov.uk