Malicious Firestarters: Arson Leaps 50% in 5 Years and Costs the Economy £2.2billion a Year

12.42.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Oct 2003

Over half of all primary fires in the UK are started deliberately according to new research by Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Matthew Taylor MP. Primary fires are those that damage property or cause injury.

The number of malicious fires have risen to over 123,000 a year, 49% up on 1997, compared to only a 14% rise in primary fires overall. Arsonists have killed over 500 people since 1997, with over 16,000 suffering injury. The damage to property and the economy runs to £2.2 billion a year.

An average week for the malicious firestarters sees 21,000 primary fires, 55 injuries, 1 death and over £40m cost to society.

Mr. Taylor said: "Every year, 50 people die in fires started by arsonists. Another 3,200 are injured."

"The Government response has been to set up the Arson Control Forum with a budget of £4 million to tackle a problem that costs the economy £2,200 million a year. But the personal cost - in lost lives, serious injury and emotional damage to families and communities is immeasurable."

"Youngsters under 18 account for nearly half of all arson proceedings, with 89% getting a caution. It is vital that the fire services, police, local authorities and schools work together to stop the firestarters."

ENDS (See Notes to Editors for Full Details)

Definitions

Malicious Fires (Arson): Deliberate ignition is proved or suspected.

Primary Fires: Cause damage to property or involve casualties, includes buildings, outdoor structures, vehicles or fires attended by 5 or more appliances.

Secondary Fires: Majority of outdoor fires including grassland and refuse fires and derelict buildings unless they include casualties, rescues etc.

2001 is the last full year figures available.

2002 figures will be released Autumn 2003.

Malicious Firestarters Quick Facts

An average week for the malicious firestarters sees 21,000 primary fires, 55 injuries, 1 death and over £40m cost to society. (Arson Control Forum Annual Report June 2003, p3)

• Arson has risen 50% in the last five years for which full year

figures are available (1997-2001) now over 123,000 incidents a year.

• Incidents of primary fires have risen too in the last five years but

only by 14% to over 228,000.

• In 1997 Arson accounted for 41% of all primary fires, in 2001 Arson accounts for 54% of all primary fires.

• Malicious car fires account for the biggest rise in Arson, leaping 87% since 1997. 80% of all car fires are set deliberately, costing the fire brigade £70m to put them out in 2001 (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 14 Jul 2003, HC Deb 10 June 2003, 19 June 2003, Fire Statistics Monitor up to Sept 2002 published 5 Aug 2003).

Malicious Killers

Total deaths from Arson 1997-2001 - 544.

Total non-fatal injuries from Arson1997-2001 16,014.

(Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 2 Jul 2003: Column 356W).

Those on lowest incomes are 31 times more likely to suffer arson attacks and 16 times more likely to die by fire.

(Arson Control Forum Annual Report June 2003, p3).

Firestarters & The Law.

Between 1997-2001, an average of 1458 people a year were sentenced for setting malicious fires with an average of 504 people a year getting a custodial sentence.

Latest available figures show in 2001, 2475 people were proceeded against with 1500 found guilty (40% success rate). Under 18's accounted for 46% of all Arson proceedings in 2001 with 89% getting a caution. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 7 Jul 2003, 18 Jun 2003) Malicious Firestarters Cost Britain £ Billions.

Latest Government figures estimate Arson cost the Economy (England and Wales) £2.2bn in 2000. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb, 19 June 2003).

Total costs to the economy in fighting all types of fires are estimated at £6.9bn (The Economic Costs of Fires, Home Office Oct 2001).

The Commercial sector suffers at the hands of firestarters yearly costs of approx £200m in loss of business and property damage. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 14 July 2003).

Malicious domestic fires cost approx £351m per year, of which fire service costs are approx £41m (10%) (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 14 July 2003, 19 June

2003).

Malicious Firestarters In 2001

14,769 Homes set on fire deliberately - an average of 40 per day (7% increase on 1997) - average cost of a domestic fire £23,800. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP, HC Deb 14 July 2003, 10 June 2003).

1,040 Schools set on Fire deliberately (4682 since 1997) - 328 during school hours, of which 49 (15%) were started by pupils under 10 years old. Zurich Municipal, the countries leading school insurer estimates £93m worth damage was caused by fires in schools in 2001. They also estimate that 75% of all school fires are struck maliciously invariably by pupils, ex-pupils or friends peer groups. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP HC Deb 2 July 2003, Letter to Matthew Taylor MP from Larry Stokes Underwriting Manager, Zurich Municipal 26 June 2003).

79,155 Cars set on Fire deliberately (87% increase since 1997) costing the Fire Brigade £70m approx. 80% of all car fires are set deliberately. (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP HC Deb 10 June 2003, 19 June 2003, Fire Statistics Monitor up to Sept 2002 published 5 Aug 2003).

486 fires were deliberately set on farms/agricultural premises (38% of fires in this sector) costing the Fire Brigade £6.2m

(Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP HC Deb 18 June 2003, 10 June 2003).

2,474 Fires set deliberately in Retail premises costing the Fire Brigade £32m (44% of fires in this sector), (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP HC Deb 18 June 2003, 10 June

2003).

167 Churches were set on fire deliberately (63% of fires in this sector) (Parliamentary answers to Matthew Taylor MP HC Deb 10 June 2003).

What is the Government Doing?

The Arson Control Forum was established in April 2001 to lead the national drive against Arson.

The Forum's targets include halting the upward trend of arson by 31st March 2004 and to reduce it by 30% by 31st March 2009.

The Forum's budget was £1.36m in 2002/03. It will rise by 200% to £4.1m in 2003/04. They invested £1m in local arson initiatives in 2001/02 and £1.25m in 2002/03.

(Arson Control Forum Annual Report June 2003)