THE human and financial costs of arson have come under the spotlight at the launch of a major new initiative designed to clamp down on the crime in York and North Yorkshire.
Leaders of local authorities, businesses and communities heard presentations from fire and police chiefs and other speakers at the launch of the arson reduction initiative at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton, York.
More than 90,000 arson incidents occur across the country each year causing scores of deaths and leaving thousands injured.
Insurance companies pay out an average of more than £1 million every day on arson claims; in excess of £350 million a year.
About 70 per cent of all school fires are arson attacks, and hospitals, churches and public buildings are regular targets.
Other buildings particularly at risk are construction industry premises, private garages and sheds.
Eric Clark, the county's chief fire officer, discussed how reducing arson would have an impact on the community.
He said cutting incidents would not only lessen the anti-social impact of arson, but would also reduce the financial burden it puts on council taxpayers in York and North Yorkshire.
Guest speaker Janet Milne, from the Association of British Insurers' Arson Prevention Bureau, also examined the financial cost of arson in terms of increased premiums, and looked at ongoing initiatives that are in place to reduce the losses suffered as a result of arson.
Peter Walker, the deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire, told delegates there were 345 cases of arson in the county last year, of which half were vehicles.
He said the motives for arson ranged from insurance fraud to property speculation. Sixty per cent of all such crimes were committed by people aged 11 to 18.
Other speakers included the Yorkshire Farming Museum's site manager, David Thirlwall, who talked about his personal experience of arson, North Yorkshire's deputy chief fire officer, David Wynne, who spoke about arson from a fire service perspective and Councillor Geoff Rennie, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, who discussed the cost of arson to the community.
Updated: 11:30 Saturday, December 08, 2001
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