- Author
- Canter, D. | Almond, L.
- Title
- Burning Issue: Research and Strategies for Reducing Arson.
- Coporate
- University of Liverpool, England
- Report
- Product Code 02FPD00404, August 2002, 36 p.
- Distribution
- FOR MORE INFORMATION on the availability of this report CONTACT: Website: http://www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/fire/rds/research/arson/ index.htm
- Keywords
- arson | arsonists | education | building design | legislation | fire statistics | children | adults | automobile fires
- Identifiers
- magnitude and distribution of arson; different forms of arson: youth disorder, malicious, emotional expression, criminal; strategies for arson; interventions involving the arsonist; interventions involving the tagret of arson
- Abstract
- Arson is a particularly pernicious crime, which impacts on both the individual victim and on society as a whole. It is now the largest single cause of major fires in the UK. At its worst, arson leads to loss of life and significant financial damage. Yet even minor arson, where it is persistent and pervasive, sets a strongly detrimental (and visually harmful) tone to deprived communities and contributes to social exclusion. One of the key findings of the Arson Scoping Study Safer communities - towards effective arson control was the need for greater inter-agency working to address the arson problem. The Arson Control Forum was established by the government to provide the framework for that inter-agency partnership. Since it was established in 2001 the Forum has led the fight against arson by investing in local initiatives, reviewing the legislative framework to ensure it is sufficient to tackle the problem, producing best practice guidance and by conducting research. This report, The burning issue: research and strategies for reducing arson was commissioned by the Arson Control Forum and is a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on the problem of arson. I welcome it, and commend it to specialists in the field and to all who have an interest in reducing arson.