Suspect enquiries in respect of fires not involving explosives

Question 1

1. You may identify suspect by means of:

Answer 1

• circumstances of the fire
• fingerprints
• information from informants and witnesses
• media response
• Police resources such as Intelligence and Youth Services or the Fire Investigation Liaison Officer
• enquiries at prisons, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centres and schools
• information from the fire crews on people who regularly attend fires.

Question 2

2. Possible suspects may include:

Answer 2

• the owner or occupier, for insurance fraud
• an employee, to cover theft, forgery or false pretences
• a criminal, to cover traces of crime such a burglary, homicide, or to intimidate other victims of a protection racket
• an aggrieved person suffering from jealousy, hatred, rage, prejudice or a desire for revenge
• pyromaniac suffering from mental illness
• in the case of school buildings, a pupil or ex pupil
• a member of the fire service, for excitement and personal recognition
• a business competitor, to disadvantage a rival.

Question 3

3. Investigate suspects thoroughly and according to priority. Obtain their:

Answer 3

• full particulars
• criminal histories
• detail of any motor vehicle to which they may have access to
• details of any associates
• photograph

Question 4

5. Complete enquiries to establish suspect’s:

Answer 4

• opportunity
• motive
• mens rea (guilty mind)
• connections with the scene and the crime
• character, mental background, history, movements and behaviour

Question 5

6. Consider a search warrant:

Answer 5

Suspect clothing, residence, motor vehicle, workplace and any place that evidence may be found. Evidence could include:

• accelerants
• containers
• ignitors
• wick fabric
• traces of debris from the scene
• photograph evidence in situ before it is seized (take care not to destroy fingerprints)
• ask for a note suspect’s explanation regarding the evidence, note signs: burnt facial hair, smell of smoke, residues of fuel or products of combustion on the skin
• issue pol268
• ensure all exhibits seized are labelled, examined and uplifted by the exhibits officer.

Question 6

11 Arrest the suspect and obtain:

Answer 6

• fingerprints
• photographs
• consider medical examination for injuries
• offender report details
• consider getting the suspect to do a reconstruction: if cooperate.