Measuring Arson: The problems of definition and recording

Both the fire service and the police record the number of fires reported to them when the cause is not thought to be accidental. However, each service uses different recording criteria.

The fire service divides non-accidental fire incidents into two categories for reporting purposes:

‘primary fires’ – broadly those involving buildings and structures, and other property such as vehicles, storage, plant machinery; fires involving casualties, rescues or escapes; fires where significant fire service resources are employed.

and

‘secondary fires’ – broadly those involving derelict buildings or vehicles; single buildings under demolition; fires confined to chimneys; other outdoor fires such as those involving grassland, gardens and fences, refuse and refuse containers.

The fire service also categorise non-accidental fires as either ‘malicious’, ‘deliberate’ or ‘doubtful. The term ‘doubtful’ can be misinterpreted; ‘doubtful’ does not mean that the fire service does not know the cause, but that the fire is suspicious. For the cause of a fire to be recorded as ‘doubtful’, deliberate ignition has only to be suspected, not proven. The police, however, are bound by the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and, to record an offence of arson, have to prove that persons behaved ‘recklessly’ or ‘intended to damage property’.