making London a safer city Presented by Assistant Divisional Officer Peter Mansi Fire Investigation Team Fire and Arson Investigations … Why Bother?

making London a safer city ‘Fire Investigation is at the Fore-front of Community Fire Safety’

making London a safer city Determining the correct origin and cause of a fire... Allows for future preventative actionAllows for future preventative action – e.g. Juvenile Fire Setters Allows for targeting the vulnerableAllows for targeting the vulnerable –e.g. Misuse of electric blankets Can Lead to Product RecallsCan Lead to Product Recalls Can Change LegislationCan Change Legislation –e.g. Kings Cross Fire

making London a safer city What about Crimes … Steal Money = Theft … Attack someone = GBH … Kill someone = Murder … Set a deliberate fire ?

making London a safer city Let’s call it ‘Arson’... 97%

making London a safer city In 2000, Arson Fires in the United Kingdom … 20% fire casualties20% fire casualties Killed 90 peopleKilled 90 people Seriously injured 2,800 peopleSeriously injured 2,800 people €2.94bn in insurance money€2.94bn in insurance money €9.66bn true cost€9.66bn true cost

making London a safer city ‘Leading the Fight Against Arson’ Arson Control Forum 1 st annual reportArson Control Forum 1 st annual report Since 1989 in the UK there have beenSince 1989 in the UK there have been –1.8m arson fires –1,100 deaths –22,000 injuries Arson has more than doubled since 1989Arson has more than doubled since 1989

making London a safer city Are the Statistics Correct? What are the reporting mechanisms for ‘arson’ fires?What are the reporting mechanisms for ‘arson’ fires? How are we addressing this in London’s 33 boroughs?How are we addressing this in London’s 33 boroughs?

making London a safer city REPORTING & RECORDING … (in 1 London Area alone) London Fire Brigade 2,000 arson fires (over a 20 month period)2,000 arson fires (over a 20 month period) 200 FIT1 forms to the police200 FIT1 forms to the police 1,800 NOT reported !1,800 NOT reported ! Metropolitan Police Service 200 FIT1 forms received from LFB200 FIT1 forms received from LFB Only 2 were returnedOnly 2 were returned These were not recorded as fire crimesThese were not recorded as fire crimes

making London a safer city What’s the difference? London Fire Brigade = 2,000 arson fires Metropolitan Police = 0 arson fires

making London a safer city Arson Reduction Team ADO Mansi & CI Matt Bell Bark & Dag. LFB - MPS Hillingdon LFB - MPS Havering LFB - MPS Harrow LFB - MPS Barnet LFB - MPS Enfield LFB - MPS Walth.Fore st LFB - MPS Redbridge LFB - MPS Haringey LFB - MPS Islington LFB - MPS Camden LFB - MPS Hackney LFB - MPS Newham LFB - MPS Twr Hamlts LFB - MPS C.o.London LFB - CoLP Westminste r LFB - MPS Kens&Chel s LFB - MPS Hammrsmt h LFB - MPS Ealing LFB - MPS Hounslow LFB - MPS Richmond LFB - MPS Kingston LFB - MPS Wandswort h LFB - MPS Lambeth LFB - MPS Croydon LFB - MPS Merton LFB - MPS Sutton LFB - MPS Southwark LFB - MPS Lewisham LFB - MPS Bromley LFB - MPS Greenwich LFB - MPS Bexley LFB - MPS Brent LFB - MPS

making London a safer city Communications so far... Borough Arson Liaison OfficersBorough Arson Liaison Officers Fire & Arson Investigators’ Forum (FAIF) - LondonFire & Arson Investigators’ Forum (FAIF) - London Memorandum of Understanding (MPS)Memorandum of Understanding (MPS) Electronic FIT1 Police Liaison FormElectronic FIT1 Police Liaison Form International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) UK ChapterInternational Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) UK Chapter MoU LFB & CrimestoppersMoU LFB & Crimestoppers

making London a safer city I’ve not finished yet … but are there

making London a safer city Pro-active rather than re-active … The Fire Brigade has always been a good ‘reactive’ serviceThe Fire Brigade has always been a good ‘reactive’ service ‘Prevention is better than cure’‘Prevention is better than cure’ Here is an example of ‘pro-active’ arson prevention using ‘risk management’Here is an example of ‘pro-active’ arson prevention using ‘risk management’

making London a safer city Vehicle Fires - Health Implications … Burns victimsBurns victims –Skin 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 …

making London a safer city Hydrofluoric contamination … Calcium gluconate gel injected under removed finger nails 3 fingers almost lost to the HF acid from the remains of a car fire

making London a safer city

Where are these vehicles from?

making London a safer city The Electronic A/V Notfication Form … Developed by the Arson Reduction TeamDeveloped by the Arson Reduction Team Fire Risk Assessment addedFire Risk Assessment added Now available for all personnel at every fire station in LondonNow available for all personnel at every fire station in London

making London a safer city % Non-Accidental Vehicle Fires

making London a safer city Co-operation with PoliceCo-operation with Police Co-operation with Local AuthoritiesCo-operation with Local Authorities Communication with all Fire Investigation Practitioners - F.A.I.F.Communication with all Fire Investigation Practitioners - F.A.I.F. Monitor pan-London activitiesMonitor pan-London activities Input into the loopInput into the loop And Finally...

making London a safer city Assistant Divisional Officer Peter Mansi Fire Investigation Team London Fire Brigade