Hampshire Fire and Rescue Item 6

Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee

Date: 26^th June 2009

Evaluation of Impact and Effectiveness of Hampshire Arson Task Force

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Group Manager Steve Quinn : 07918887518

1. Summary

1.1 This report reflects the outcomes of the evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the Hampshire Arson Task Force in relation to the intended aims and objectives of the report "Arson Task Force - Future Funding from HCC Local Area Agreements" authored by AM Mark Rayner in December 2006.

1.2 The evaluation concludes that the Arson Task Force has made excellent progress since its implementation but has identified areas of operational practice which would benefit from refinement in order to fully meet the original aims and objectives.

1.3 The evaluation concludes that further progress can be made to reduce the impact of secondary arson across the county and that a network of Community Safety Liaison Officer's would be the ideal vehicle for this.

2. Recommendation(s)

2.1 The Committee note the content of the evaluation report and acknowledge the progress made to date of the Arson Task Force.

3. Introduction

3.1 A 2006 report from the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) in alliance with the government-led Arson Control Forum (ACF) identified that only 9% of arson cases recorded by the police resulted in a suspect being identified and less than 3% resulted in the successful conviction of the offender(s).

3.2 As a result, Police and Fire Services nationally were tasked to jointly focus on improving the multi-agency investigation of deliberate fires and increase the percentage of investigations which resulted in the identification, detection and conviction of the arsonists.

3.3 It was as a consequence of those recommendations a Local Public Services Agreement (LPSA) grant was obtained to allow the establishment of the Hampshire Arson Task Force in April 2007. Tasked with developing strategies to support and compliment the work already being carried out by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Group Managers and Police BCU Commanders within Tactical Arson Reduction Teams across the county. The Task Force was instructed to provide a common link between all multi agency arson reduction activity and focus on achievement of the following outcomes:

3.4 In its first year of operation April 2007 to April 2008, The Arson Task Force was staffed by one HFRS Watch Manager & one Hampshire Constabulary Detective Constable. Efforts in this first year concentrated on the training of the team, the establishment of the protocols for provision of a tactical response to level 2 & 3 Fire Investigations and a comprehensive review and update of Fire Investigation paperwork, policy and procedure.

3.5 During the year the team assisted with 174 investigations and deployed to provide a tactical response on 92 occasions. The volume of work undertaken and level of success achieved in this first year, resulted in a successful bid for additional funding.

3.6 Since April 2008, restructuring has enabled the redeployment of the Community Safety Team (consisting of two HFRS personnel) to work in support of the Arson Task Force and Fire Investigation Officers as the Fire Investigation Support Unit. The allocation of a dedicated Administrator and an Arson Analyst to the Task Force has significantly bolstered the teams capability.

4. Areas Working Well

4.1 During their time in post the Watch Manager and Detective Constable assigned to the Arson Task Force have undertaken training in fire investigation and the psychology of the arsonist. This training and experience gained during the 92 operational deployments of the first year of operation has ensured that effective multi agency working protocols are now embedded within the level 2 & 3 Fire Investigation protocols of both services.

4.2 The overall multi - agency team approach to fire investigation has improved significantly, with each responding resource, be they Police CSI's, HFRS Fire Investigators, Local Police Units or CID officers now working cohesively to ensure an effective investigation of the incident(s) at the scene of the fire. This collaboration has seen arrest rates relating to level 2 & 3 arson investigations increase significantly, from the baseline of 9% in 2005. Commitment has been agreed with Hampshire Police to ensure the continuation of this effective partnership.

4.3 At incidents where the Arson Task Force are actually deployed to the scene, the improvement relating to the arrest and ultimate conviction of arson offenders is even more significant.

Level 2 & 3 Fire Investigations - Arson Task Force not deployed

Level 2 & 3 Fire Investigations - Arson Task Force deployed to scene

4.4 Post incident protocols are also working well, with the Arson Task Force continuing to support investigative activities through to their conclusion. Support provided includes the completion of investigative reviews to identify outstanding lines of enquiry and the compilation of an comprehensive evidential package to support the prosecution of the offender at Court. They also assist the Police OIC in dealing with request from Crown Prosecution Service or Prosecution Barrister for additional evidence, thereby ensuring the best possible case is presented at Court.

5. Identified Opportunities for further improvement

5.1. Establishment of an effective network of Community Safety Liaison Officers (CSLO). One or more CSLO will be placed in identified groups on a risk basis. A unified training package provided to ensure consistency in product, but tailored to meet local needs, will be available across the county. Whilst these personnel will have a wide remit it is believed that they can have a major impact on secondary arson. A further report to SMT will provide specific information regarding the role of CSLO.

5.2. The CS Introduction of a consistent service wide response to incidents, where there is a threat or perceived risk of Arson Attack. (P.R.I.M.E. / Target Hardening / Sanctuary Scheme).

5.3. In addition to existing training packages, basic fire investigation awareness training has been delivered to Police frontline officers (Criminal Investigation Department, Tactical Patrol & Safer Neighbourhood Teams). Additionally Arson Reduction Awareness training to be provided to Police TPT & SNT teams. Implementation started on 1 April 2009.

6. Human Resources

6.1 The Watch Managers post within the Arson Task Force has now been placed on the establishment. This has been achieved by the removal of a post in Community Safety (Home Safety).

7. Physical resources

None

8. Information and Communications Technology resources

8.1 The need for an effective analytical software package, to allow the collation, analysis and dissemination of data and intelligence by the Community Risk Intelligence office to all Groups has been requested, this will free the Community Safety Liaison Officers & Arson Task Force to concentrate on the implementation of control measures targeting the identified trends in co-ordination with partner agencies.

9. People Impact Assessment

9.1 Original Equality Impact Assessment conducted in July 2007.

People Impact Assessment conducted in October 2008 and no significant areas were identified.

The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

10. Conclusion

10.1 The Arson Task Force has developed well in its two years, greatly improving the Service response to primary arson offences requiring levels 2 & 3 fire investigation. The evaluation of the ATF has identified a number of opportunities for further improvement, and these have been incorporated into the development of the team. It is believed there is great potential to reduce primary and secondary arson by effectively utilising CSLOs.

11. Background information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

11.1 The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report:

Fire & Rescue Service Circular 1-2006 "The Investigation of fires where the supposed cause is not accidental"

Home Office Arson Scoping Study "Safer Communities Towards Effective Arson Control"

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.