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Arson

Take a few moments to check out our arson pages for advice and tips on:

  • making your business safer
  • firesetter intervention
  • what to do if you suspect arson

The primary aim of our arson reduction strategy is to reduce the number of deliberate fires within Oxfordshire by working with partners. The four main strands or our strategy are:

Prevention

We have entered into partnerships with other agencies to aid the prevention of arson.  This includes schemes such as:

  • the removal of abandoned vehicles
  • the removal of refuse from streets
  • securing of empty properties to prevent access

Education

We provide arson education:

  • through our fire safety schools programme for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 students
  • by our firesetter councilors to prevent future “fire play” who:
    • work with young people who are playing with fire without malicious intent
    • work with known firesetting offenders

Detection

Through analysis of fire incident data we can identify patterns in order to aid us in the targeting the best prevention and education programmes. We share this information with our partners so that we can work together to help drive arson reduction.

Investigation

The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 grants powers to all Fire and Rescue Services to obtain information and investigate fires. Having carried out an initial investigation, if the cause is believed to be an act of intentional or recklessly setting fire to another's property or to one's own property for some improper reason, we will immediately advise Thames Valley Police so they can continue possible further criminal investigations.