Arson

Arson is committed if a person without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property by fire, intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged.

Arson has been a blight on local communities for some considerable time, having in the main an economic loss to people, businesses, communities and Local Authorities. Aside to this, the demands on some Fire & Rescue Service’s (FRSs) from arson and deliberate fires far outweighs that of other incident types; resulting in resources being diverted away from life risk incidents and preventive activities.

The punishment for arson can be very serious and length of sentencing is dependent on the nature of the crime. If the defendant is found to have the intention of causing harm then they will receive a longer sentence than someone who recklessly caused arson. Typically, the more damage caused by the arson fire equates to the seriousness of the sentencing.

Reduce the Threat

Reduce access to your property for trespassers and opportunist arsonists:

Secure your boundary, repair or block gaps in hedges, walls or fences
If you have gates close and lock them
Secure sheds, garages and other outbuildings with padlocks or similar
Fit external lighting to alert you to intruders

Manage your refuse so there are no fuel sources for opportunists:

Clear any rubbish from garden, behind sheds etc.
Store wheelie bins securely, away from property and out of sight
Put bins out on collection day and bring them back in asap
Large items like furniture, old vehicles or rubble provide a fuel source, contact your local council for advice on removal of bulky waste

Additional Advice

Keep your home and vehicles secure:

Close windows and keep doors locked
Close blinds/curtains at night to reduce visibility of your valuables
Park on your drive or in a secure, well-lit area and remove valuables from your vehicle
If considering CCTV it should only cover your property and to support a prosecution needs to be 4 megapixels and have resolution of min. 1080p

Look out for your neighbourhood:

Well-lit areas are less likely to be targeted
Report fly-tipping, broken street lights etc. to www.fixmystreet.com
Report incidents confidentially to CrimeStoppers 0800 555111

Crime Prevention Information

Additionally, it may also be useful for you to have advice on crime prevention that may help you to protect yourself in the future. You can find lots of useful information on local crime prevention by clicking here:
https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

Is it an emergency?

If you are in immediate danger and support is needed right away, call Staffordshire Police on 999

If you feel it is a non-emergency, you can log incidents that have happened by calling Staffordshire Police on 101

If you have a hearing impairment, you can use their textphone service on 18001 101