Arson - fires not involving explosives

Question 1

General Enquiries procedure

Answer 1

1- submit articles to ESR asap
2- issue an offence report - enter stolen property into NIA
3- obtain written statements/photos/plans from SFI who can supply:
- CAD report (timed-sequence of the call-time and resources that attended)
- fire investigation report (cause of the fire and its point of origin)
4- To stimulate flow of info and ID of suspects, consider:
- Media release
- sending bulletin board messages to local and neighbouring Police
- informing staff at line up
- using special notices, if there is a pattern to the fires
5- Plan enquiries to ensure these ppl are interviewed:
- owner/occupier
- person who last secured building - find out position of doors/windows left it
- person who found fire - if premises was secured at the time
- person who gave the alarm
6- consider area canvas of the neighbourhood. Interview witnesses and obtain statements about:
- the fire
- conduct of people at the scene
- people loitering at the scene of fire
- vehicles in the vicinity before the fire
7- Think about
- possible motives such as profit, fraud, jealousy, crime concealment
- victims reputation and financial position
8- contact insurance company to obtain
- services of an assessor, value of building and damage
- particulars of insurance
- copies of polices
- info on prior claims
- details of any recent increases in cover or over-insurance
9- if previous, similar fires in area, consider work of pyromaniac or “fire-bug”. Obtain directions about
- special patrols
- immediate police attendance at fires to observe conduct of ppl present
- saturation patrols in vicinity in effort to apprehend suspect
- prevention activity
10- inform local Intel about fire and find out about suspects, similar previous fires, other fires involving inft
11 - enquire at meteorological service to officially establish the weather conditions at the time of the fire
12- maintain contact wight he owner of the property

Question 2

Suspect enquiries - procedure

Answer 2

1- ID suspects by means of:
- circumstances of fire
- fingerprints
- info from inft and witnesses
- media response
- police resources such as intel, youth aid
- enquiries in prisions, psychiatric hospitals, schools
- info from fire crew who regularly attend fires
2- possible suspects may include:
- owner/occupier
- an employee (i.e to cover theft, forgery etc)
- criminal (i.e to cover burglary, homicide)
- an aggrieved person
- a pyromaniac
- a pupil or ex pupil of a school
- member of fire service for excitement or recognition
- business competitor
3- Investigate suspects thoroughly and acceding to priority. Obtain:
- full particulars
- criminal histories
- details to cars they have access to
- details of associates
- photograph
4- consider surveillance
5- complete enquiries to establish suspects:
- opportunity
- motive
- mens rea
- connection with scene and crime
- character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour
6- consider a search warrant. When executing:
- search clothing, residence, motor vehicle and work place for accelerants, containers, igniters, wick fabric, traces of debris from scene
- photo evidence in situ
- ask for and note suspects explanation regarding the evidence - look for signs they’ve been at scene (i.e burnt hair, smell of smoke, residue on skin)
7- interview suspect
8- consider photo montage
9- complete enquiries to corroborate or negate suspects explanation
10- advise supervisor. Consider of enough has been established to prosecute - gain authority to prosecute.
11- arrest suspect and obtain:
- fingerprints
- photograph
- consider medical for injuries
- offender report details
- consider getting suspect to do a reconstruction, if co-operative
12- Prep prosecution file - forward noting onto FILO etc

Question 3

Reporting - must include

Answer 3

INTRODUCTION
-premise location, names of owner/occupier, summary
INFO ABOUT PROPERTY
- layout, age/condition, type/materials, value, security, heating/lighting
DETAILS OF THE FIRE AND EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT
- when property last seen (condition, how secured), who noticed fire, who alerted fire service, what fire service did
VALUE OF DAMAGE
RESULTS OF FIRE INVESTIGATION
- how scene searched, the SFI report, specialist opinions, reason for conclusion, motives & evidence
INFO ON THE INSURANCE
- assessors report, policy details etc
RESULTS OF GENERAL ENQUIRIES
- name of witness seen, outcome of neighbourhood canvases, names of suspects interviews/results, conclusions/recommendations for further action