CheckFire has released ‘The State of Arson 2024’, a report analysing Home Office data on deliberate fires across key sectors in the UK, including hospitality, healthcare, industrial, retail, and education. The report highlights the alarming prevalence of arson and its far-reaching consequences, from severe financial losses to the disruption of essential services and threats to public safety.
According to Home Office data, examined by CheckFire, nearly 1,100 deliberate fires occurred across hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, industrial premises, retail locations, and educational settings in England alone, in the year ending March 2024.
The hospitality sector has been identified as the most affected, with nearly 400 arson incidents reported. These fires present unique challenges to each sector, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies. The report dives deep into the key sectors and provides evidence-based recommendations for arson prevention. Some of the main findings include:
- Hospitality: nearly 400 arson incidents reported, with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues being primary targets.
- Healthcare: over 140 deliberate fires disrupted essential services in hospitals and medical facilities.
- Industrial: 130 arson cases were recorded in industrial settings, posing threats to property, productivity, and safety.
- Retail: premises suffered 196 arson attacks, resulting in loss of stock, property, and business operations.
- Education: 80 cases of arson were recorded in schools, with severe consequences for the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.
The report highlights the urgent need for businesses and institutions to prioritise fire safety and implement arson prevention strategies to safeguard lives, assets, and services.
While no legal mandate exists for arson-specific prevention plans, businesses must comply with fire safety regulations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Each sector faces unique risks, from securing access points in hospitality venues to implementing strict protocols in healthcare and industrial settings.
The State of Arson 2024 report outlines practical measures for protecting high-risk industries, such as enhanced security measures (e.g., CCTV, alarm systems, secure access controls), staff training on fire safety and identifying suspicious activities, and proper storage of combustible materials and reduction of ignition sources.
