Location of Arson Offences: Commerce and Industry
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Arson in Commerce and Industry
Arson is an increasingly significant factor in fire losses and industrial and commercial
buildings are major targets for arsonists. The insured monetary loss associated with
all fires in industry and commerce was recorded as being £602 million in 1998, with
an estimated half of this being due to arson. However, arson attack against industry
and commerce is not just a crime against property for which the insurer will pay,
the losses can also involve:
Deaths and injuries to staff and fire-fighters
Business interruption, or even closure of the company
Loss of jobs
Loss of facilities or amenities for the community
Pollution of the air by smoke and possibly water pollution as a result of water
used in the fire-fighting operations
Loss of industrial heritage
In the North East alone, it is estimated that 80% of all businesses who suffer
a serious fire either:
Lose and never regain their market share
Lose valuable and skilled staff to competitors
Fail to recover from the fire and close down the business
While the number of fires and the incidence of arson in industrial and commercial
premises increased until the mid 1990’s, these figures have begin to fall slowly in
recent years.
The incidence of arson in industrial, agricultural, commercial and public premises
1991-1998
|
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
|
Total number of fires
|
43,300
|
42,800
|
43,400
|
46,600
|
47,900
|
47,200
|
44,500
|
41,700
|
|
Number of malicious fires
|
15,000
|
15,700
|
16,900
|
22,400
|
21,700
|
22,500
|
20,200
|
17,500
|
|
% of malicious fires
|
35
|
37
|
39
|
48
|
45
|
48
|
45
|
42
|
Source: Arson Prevention Bureau
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arson in Commerce and Industry
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