Rural Crime
Arson in Rural areas
Farms are particularly vulnerable to arson due to their isolated location, open boundaries and easy availability of readily ignitable material. Every year in the UK, about 1,700 farm buildings and 66,000 acres of grassland are destroyed by fire. About half the fires are started deliberately, either as vandalism or for insurance fraud.
The Arson Prevention Bureau, set up jointly by the Home Office and Association of British Insurers, published in May 1999 guidance specifically aimed at reducing the risks of deliberate fires on farms and in the countryside.
Fire Brigades undertake a number of initiatives with children and young people to counter anti-social and antagonistic behaviour they have shown towards fire-fighters on duty and to educate them about playing with fire and deliberate fire setting. Young Fire-fighters Associations include rural as well as urban and inner-city children and intentionally recruit from those at risk of social exclusion, including those from poorer socio-economic areas.
Fire Brigades are included amongst those who must be invited to participate in the work of crime reduction partnerships. Locally some Fire Authorities do share sites and other facilities with other emergency services, but this is a local operational matter.
The Home Office Public Service Agreement includes a target “ to reduce the trend in the incidence of fire and related deaths…by an improvement in fire service efficiency of 2% a year including through increased co-operation and collaboration between fire brigades, including sharing resources, and between them and other emergency services….”
Last update: 09/09/03