FIRE CAUSED BY VANDALISM
by DAVID TURNER
FIRES CAUSED BY VANDALISM
Introduction
At a Home Office conference on vandalism held in October 1978, it was stated that it was proposed to set
up working party to examine the extend of the problem of fires caused by vandalism.
Accordingly, a working party was set up consisting of representatives from Fire, Police and Insurance
Companies and related organisations who were given the following items of reference.
“To establish the extent of vandalism by fire and to identify how far the pattern of incidents conforms
to any identified general pattern of vandalism, to identify the main risk areas and targets and to
consider and make recommendations as to the potential courses of remedial action".
1. SCOPE OF THE WORKING PARTY- REPORT
The work was divided into two parts; to identify the extent, the pattern and the main targets of vandalism by
fire; and to consider and recommend preventative or remedial action.
2. DEFINITION
The term vandalism means different things to different people and therefore before proceeding, the working
party had first to identify which type of fire incident could be considered as a fire caused by an act of
vandalism. After much discussion the following definition was considered to be the most appropriate.
"Those fires whose origin was attributed by the fire service to malicious or doubtful ignition or to
children with fire, excluding in the latter cases those fires which were started accidentally.”
3. STATISTICAL BACKGROUND
With fires caused by vandalism defined, considerable help was then given to the working party by the Home
Office Statistical Department. This statistical information and other factors studied by the working party and
the conclusions reached are contained in a report published by the Home Office entitled 'Fires caused by
Vandalism' on which this note is based, the geographical pattern of the relative prevalence of vandalism by
fire in different brigade areas is outlined in table-form in the report. A copy of the table is reproduced as an
appendix to this note. The table is arranged so that the brigade with the highest combined percentage of
fires attributable to vandalism, as defined, is at the top with the lowest at the bottom accordingly. The report
states that the table is a measure, albeit a crude one, of the relative prevalence of vandalism as a cause of
fire in different brigade areas. Study of the table suggests, however, the differences in brigade reporting
practices could well account for some of the difference in the percentage of fires attributed to individual
sources of ignition. It could well be that a significant proportion of fires attributed to unknown causes are
due to an act of vandalism.
4. COINCIDENCE OR AREAS, FIRES BY VANDALISM TO GENERAL VANDALISM
Before any remedial action could be considered it was through that the working party should examine
whether vandalism by fire was more pronounced in areas where other forms of vandalism were fire or
whether such attacks were related to specific targets only. Chief Officers of Police were asked to liaise with
Chief Fire officers to plot how areas of general vandalism, from information received from the police, related
to those incidents of fire attributable to the fires by vandalism definition. The findings of the working party
were that areas where general vandalism was particularly high tended to have problems with fire caused by
vandalism. The problem was most severe, not surprisingly in areas of high urban concentration, where
there is generally a wholetime brigade.
5. MAIN RISKS AND TARGET AREAS
In compiling information for the report a number of points emerged from an analysis of the fires attributed to
vandalism.
1)
Out of a total number of 95,795 fires in occupied buildings in the United Kingdom, 8,174 were of
malicous or doubtful ignition, 7,174 to children with fire and in 12,219 fires the source of ignition was
unknown or unrecorded.
2)
Over 50% of fires in schools, places of public entertainment and construction industry premises were
possible caused by vandalism.
3)
About 20% of fires in hotels, restaurants, clubs and public houses were possibly attributable to
vandalism.
4)
Fires in dwellings attributable to vandalism was less than 20%, but were large in total.
The need for accurate fire investigation to determine the supposed cause of fire is a must. To this end, as
part of the working party study of vandalism as a cause of fire, the Home Office requested the West Sussex
and Avon Fire Brigades to set up a combined Fire Investigation Team consisting of both police and firemen.
When the initial inhibitions were removed, it was apparent the fire brigades could assist the police in the
investigation of arson. Such was the success of this venture that the attendance of a Forensic Scientist was
not very often required and the liaison between the police and fire Brigade improved immensely.
No real pattern of target was established from the limited investigations undertaken. The Home Office
Statistical Department analysis has shown that the occupancies vulnerable to vandalism by fire are very
diverse. From an analysis of fires by the Home Office Statistical Department and the reports of the brigades
involved in the combined police/fire brigade investigation teams, it would appear that targets for fires caused
by vandalism and often those occupancies which are very isolated, unattended and with little or no security.
Indeed the report observed that quite a number of malicious fires are started by persons with a legitimate
right to be in the premises.
The risk to any premises seems to be higher where children and young persons form a disproportionate
number of those visiting the premises, schools, cinemas, amusement arcades etc.
Finally, premises are more likely to be the target of fires caused by vandalism outside school hours,
particularly during the hours of darkness and at weekends.
6. POSSIBLE - REMEDIAL ACTION
The requirements of fire prevention and security in determining what remedial measures need to be
introduced may be in conflict and the report states that priority should be given to that of saving life.
However, measures are available which provide for both security and means of escape from fire provisions.
Collaboration between police and fire brigades in security and means of escape to ensure that there is a
compatible uniform approach already exists, and to this end a member of the College staff attends the Home
Office Crime Prevention Centre, Stafford, to lecture to each course on the compatibility of security and
means of escape. In formulating a scheme for securing premises from vandalism, and ensuring that
persons employed to work or resorting to the building for whatever purpose, can escape from fire, it is
important that consultation with the owner/occupier and insurers of the property should take place.
Many police authorities have a liaison arrangement with a local architects to be consulted regarding security.
This may be one area where the brigade fire prevention officers, when checking plans deposited with local
district councils for Building Regulation approval etc, should they recognise a vandalism/security problem,
advise consultation with the local crime prevention officer.
An idea suggested by a senior crime prevention officer recently was that fire prevention officers should when
compiling a report, add a phrase to the effect that, should the proposer request advice on security matters
he should not hesitate to contact his local crime prevention officer.
The report divides the measures to reduce the incidence of vandalism by fire into two main categories.
a)
Immediate physical measures designed to reduce the opportunity for damage to targets, and
b)
Long term social measures designed to change the mental condition which causes vandals to
commit offences.
A)
Immediate Physical Measures
1)
Buildings - Buildings should be designed and sited so as to be under natural surveillance by
members of the public and others. There is some evidence to suggest that areas out of sight of
residents or passers- by or communal stairs, corridors, and grassed areas, etc., which do not belong
to anyone persons therefore nobody feels responsible, tend to be more vulnerable to all forms of
vandalism. Such areas should be kept to a minimum.
2)
Access to Buildings - Avoid low flat roofs, adjoining low buildings, trees, external pipes etc.
Fire escape routes, excessive use of glass, inefficient fastenings of doors and windows.
Note fire escape routes sited to the rear unsighted areas of buildings can be alarmed and lighted if
there is a security risk.
3)
Siting Buildings etc., in Relation to the Boundary - Offices, sheds and materials should be sited away
from boundary fences and reduce the opportunity for vandals climbing onto and causing damage
from the outside.
Loading bay, doors and windows should where practicable be sited well back from main gates and
other points of entry.
4)
Disposition of Premises for Adequate Supervision - At the planning stage of premises the layout
should be such that access to staff toilets, cloakrooms etc., should not be made via storage areas or
other secure areas.
5)
Materials in Construction with a Resistente to Fire - Regard should be paid to the materials chosen
for fittings and facings in respect of their resistance to fire.
In order to achieve a compatible police/fire approach when giving advice in buildings already designed and
constructed liaison should first take place to provide for agreement on the measures which can be adopted,
the salient points are listed below:1.
All doors, windows and gates should be locked when the building is unoccupied. Good quality locks
should be used.
2.
Fences, walls, gates, etc., should be kept in a good state of repair. Gaps underneath doors should
be kept as small as possible. Letter boxes should have a metal receptical fixed on the inside of the
door.
3.
Good housekeeping and secure storage of combustibles to deny the potential fire raiser access to a
ready supply of fuel. Vegetation should be kept cut short.
4.
The installation of automatic intruder alarms, automatic sprinkler systems and automatic fire
detection should be considered. One device to detect the intruder before vandalism occurs and the
other to minimise any fire caused by the unauthorised intruder before he is apprehended.
Other matters considered by the report include the use of patrols by caretakers, security guards, watchmen
etc., or by the use of closed circuit television. These are measures usually provided on high risk targets.
The report states that even for high risk targets it would be unrealistic for specific police cover to be provided
to secure the premises from vandalism attacks. The report goes on to say that anything but a substantial
increase in the general level of police presence in an area is unlikely to have more than a marginal effect on
general vandalism, let alone vandalism by fire.
B.
Long-Term Social Measures
The Working Party considered the effect of introducing tougher punishments as a deterrent to potential
vandals and fire raisers. However, there was not strong evidence that tougher punitive measures act as a
deterrent to vandals.
A senior police officer speaking at a seminar held to discuss the working party report said that in his police
area, Strathclyde, each local authority had a Crime Prevention Panel on which the Fire Service was
represented.
In common with other police forces, Strarhclyde had established a Community Involvement Branch
embracing social and crime prevention aspects and the crime prevention programme incorporated a Youth
Advisory Service designed to divert potential and party offenders from crime and anti-social behaviour.
Educational programmes in schools and community projects were run to instil in youngsters a sense of
community pride and respect for property.
One practical method currently being prepared for publication which it is hoped will in the long term change
the mental attitude of vandals which causes them to commit acts of vandalism by fire raising is a scheme
entitled 'Project Fire – Secondary Schools’.
This is the second in the series, the first having been a tape/slide presentation directed towards primary and
junior schools.
This second series had been designed to be presented by the school teaching staff during the first two years
of secondary school education and forms part of the normal school subject curriculum with a separate
teaching package for English Language, Science, Domestic Science and many more. For the English
Language package pupils, during one of their normal lessons, will study a fire in a flat, pictorially they will
point out good fire prevention practice and then write an essay on the subject. If this scheme is financially
possible and successful, a similar scheme will be prepared related to crime prevention.
7. CONCLUSION
The Working party report observed that there appeared always to be a strong opportunist element in
vandalism and therefore if the opportunity for damage to be caused could be overcome quickly by fast
effective repairs to fences, gates, windows and doors etc., this may lead also to a reduction in the damage
caused by vandalism.
Whilst accepting the role and importance of wider long term measures aimed at reducing vandalism, the
report considers that the most practical way to control vandalism by fire is through security policies aimed at
reducing the opportunity for damage to specific targets through close co-operation between the police, fire
service, and the insurance industry.