Arson Flashcards
Arson section 267(1)(a), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any property
If he or she knows or ought to know that danger to life is likely to ensue
Arson section 267(1)(b), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
And without claim of right
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any immovable property, or any vehicle, ship or aircraft in which that person has no interest
Arson section 267(1)(c), CA 1961
Intentionally
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any immovable property, or any vehicle, ship or aircraft
With intent to obtain any benefit or cause loss to any person
Arson, section 267(2)(a), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly and without claim of right
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any property (other than property listed in section 267(1) in which that person has no interest
Arson - section 267 (2)(b), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any property(other than property listens in section 267(1)
With intent to obtain any benefit or cause loss to any person
Arson section 267(3), CA 1961
Intentionally
Damages by fire or damages by means of explosive
Any property
With reckless disregard for the safety of any other property
Attempted Arson, section 268, CA 1961
Everyone
Attempts to commit Arson
In respect of any immovable property or any vehicle, ship it aircraft
Intentional Damage, section 269 (1), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
Destroys or damages
Any property
If he or she knows or ought to know that danger to life is likely to ensue
Intentional damage, section 269 (2) (a), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
And without claim of right
Destroys or damages
Any property in which that person has no interesr
Intentional damage, section 269(2)(b), CA 1961
Intentionally or recklessly
And without claim of right
Destroys or damages
Any property
With intent to obtain any benefit or cause loss to any person
Intentional Damage, section 269(3), CA 1961
Intentionally
Destroys or damages
Any property
With reckless disregard for the safety of any other property
Providing explosive to commit an offence, section 272, CA 1961
Knowingly has in his or her possession or makes
Any explosive substance or dangerous engine, instrument or thing
With intent to use or enable another person to use the substance, dangerous engine or instrument or thing to commit an offence
R v Cameron
Recklessness is established if
The defendant recognised that there was a real possibility that:
- His or her actions would bring about the proscribed result
- that the proscribed circumstances existed; and
Having regard to that risk those actions were unreasonable
R v Archer
Property may be damaged if it suffers the permanent or temporary physical harm or permanent or temporary impairment of its value
R v Morley
Loss is assessed by the extent to which the complainants position prior to the offence has been diminished or impaired
R v Harpur
Conduct may be viewed cumulatively up to the point when the conduct in question stops. The defendants conduct may be considered in its entirety. How much remains to be done is relevant, though not determinative
Natural causes of fire
Fire can be caused naturally by any combination of fuel, heat source and air.
Factors include:
Chemical reaction
The suns rays
Lighting
Static electricity
Rodents eating through wiring, or building nests out of flammable material
Spontaneous combustion and ignition of, for example, damp grain, hay or wool; cloth soaked in oil, turpentine or paint; fine dust in joinery factories or mills
Power under the fire service act 1975-S28
The person in charge of the fire service is charged with the direction of operations at a fire under sec 28, fire service Act 1975.
These powers confer the right to:
- enter private property when it is on fire, or when entry is essential to perform necessary duty
Close roads
Remove vehicle impeding the fire service, if necessary can break into vehicles for that purpose
Remove people in danger or interfering with operations, use reasonable force necessary
Do anything else that is reasonably necessary to protect life and property
Use of fire service powers by police
Police may exercise these powers if called upon to do so by the person in charge of the fire service.
Police have no right to exercise these powers just because they are present at the fire.
Purpose of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between police and fire service
Ensure investigators of fire scenes are efficiently coordinated, and expertly and independently conducted, and any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential criminal prosecutions or coronial enquiries
The fire service will notify the police if
A fire results in serious injury or death, or
A fire is considered suspicious
Role of fire investigation liaison officer (FILO)
- attend every fire that results in serious injury or death
- co-ordinating fire investigations in their designated area or district
- arrange police attendance at fire scene where required
- assist area and district with fire investigation related queries
- coordinate fire investigation training for police employees in the area and district
- provide other advice and expertise as required.
Specialist fire investigators will be called to attend and investigate
- fires where fatalities occur
- fires where serious life-threatening fire related injuries occur
- structure fires where the cause is suspicious or not determined
- significant fire spread across property boundaries
- fires in building where fire safety features have failed
- any other fire, upon request from police or other agency
What is a fire service investigation liaison officer (FSILO)
A staff member from the fire service, they have responsibility for
- arranging specialist fire investigator attendance at scenes where requested by police and
- establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with police FILO in respective police areas.
What the specialist fire investigator and fire investigation liaison office discuss
- hand over if the scene
- access to the fire scene
- process for examination and investigation
- identification and collection of evidence at the first scene
Police responsibilities at a fire scene examination and investigation police must
- conduct the criminal investigation of coronial enquiry
- undertake responsibility for protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
- collect and remove material from the fire crime scene
- preservation, analysis and subsequent disposition of any such material.
What are some common methods of setting fires
- candles
- chemical igniters
Potassium permanganate, sugar and glycerine
potassium chlorate, sugar and sulphuric acid - electrics apparatus a bar heater turned to face a wall or furniture
An iron left flat on a surface - matches and cigarettes
- electric matches
- Molotov cocktail
- timing devices
Carelessness that might result in fire
- Kids playing with matches or lighters
- Vagrants lighting fires for warmth that get out of control
- Ironing
- Setting off fireworks
- Smoking
- Leaving stove or heater on
- Leaving fat unattended while cooking
Evidence of wilful causes of fire
- Evidence of explosive
- evidence of accelerants
- evidence of intentional interference
- intentional removal of valuable property
In determining the seat of the fire, the SFI (Specialist fire investigator) will consider
- Wind direction and speed, weather
- witness reports
- colour of the flames and smoke
- direction of spread
What to ask incident controller at the scene
- time and date the cal was made and the manner it was received
- what appliance attended
- what state the fire was in when fire arrived
- whether they thought the fire suspicious and if so why
What conferences assist with and who attends
- identifying suspects
- reconstructing if a scene
- assessing information obtained
- planning further enquiries
- Establishing possible motives
Attends - OC CIB
- O/C investigation
- Police photographer
- fingerprint technician/SOCO
Power of authorised person in relation to land, building or structure. Section 42(1) - fire and emergency New Zealand Act 2017
- enter any land building or structure
- break into any building or structure that may be on fire or other wise endangered
- take or send equipment or machine required into, through or upon any land, building or structure
- remove from any land, building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered, any flammable, combustible, explosive, or dangerous material
- cause any building or structure that is on fire or otherwise endangered to be pulled down or shored up at the time of the emergency or within reasonable time afterwards.
How to link a suspect to an arson
- burnt facial skin
- products of combustion on skin
- Smell of smoke
- residue of fuel
Suspect enquiries - step 5 complete enquiries to establish the suspects
- motive
- men’s rea
- opportunity
- connection with the scene and crime
- character, mental background, history, movements, and behaviour
Protective clothing that should be worn at the scene
Helmet
Nose and mouth filter
Overalls
Gloves
Footwear with steel soles and caps
People who should be interviewed
- owner/occupier of the house
- person who last secured the house
- person who found the fire
- person who gave the alarm
- bystanders
- people loitering
- media
- local police
Guarding and controlling a fire scene
- watch for possible suspects
- avoid interference with the scene
- prevent looting
- Prevent further fire damage
- preserve evidence