Arson prevention
Arson is a key element of anti-social behaviour, it is a killer of people, businesses, homes and jobs. To find out how YOU can help reduce arson, see Advice and Information.
In response to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Home Office Arson Scoping Study 1999, it was recognised that there was a rapidly increasing number of deliberately started fires, and a need to have effective arrangements in place to tackle arson as part of the ongoing drive to provide safer communities.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cambridgeshire Constabulary have been working together in partnership since November 2001, with the creation of the Arson Task Force (ATF).
The purpose of the Arson Task Force is to ensure efficient and effective cooperation between the Fire and Police Services when dealing with areas of mutual interest such as:-
- All fires involving fatalities;
- All fires involving serious injury;
- All fires involving criminal damage or where the cause is suspicious;
- The reduction of arson related crime by environmental design and planning;
- The reduction of arson related crime by diversionary and intervention strategies.
The primary aims of the ATF are to improve crime scene management; fire investigation training; education and awareness programmes; environmental conditions; anti-social behaviour; conviction rates and most importantly, to reduce the number of arson-related incidents.
The overall aim of the ATF is to achieve a 10% reduction in deliberate fires by 31st March 2010 from the 2001/02 baseline - something Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is well on course to achieve.
The sub-pages of this section of the website contain help and advice to home owners and businesses on arson; further information on the organisation of the ATF; the work we do and links to partner agencies.
Get involved!
To help your community by providing information on people responsible for arson, you can phone Crimestoppers now, free of charge, on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, visit the Crimestoppers website.
