Find
out about the Arson campaign 2008 here
About the ATF
The Avon and Somerset Arson Task Force (ATF)
is a partnership between Avon Fire & Rescue
Service, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Devon & Somerset
Fire & Rescue Service, which aims to reduce arson
through a variety of schemes including:
Education
The most likely offenders involved with arson are 11 -19 year
olds. The ATF visits schools throughout the area
teaching students about the dangers and consequences of
arson.
Youth Worker
The ATF team has a dedicated youth worker who carries out
intervention programmes with young people who have either been
cautioned or convicted of arson.
Prevention
Specialist advice is available from the ATF on reducing and
preventing the risk of your property suffering an arson attack.
Cleaner Communities
The ATF has introduced Environmental Action Days (EADs). EADs
target areas where there are specific problems, such as arson or
vandalism. During these special days a team of people from
different enforcement agencies, such as Avon & Somerset
Constabulary and the local council, walk around the area taking
action as they find problems.
The work carried out during an EAD might include picking up
rubbish from the streets, removing untaxed, dangerous or abandoned
vehicles, cleaning up graffiti, giving fire safety advice, fitting
free smoke alarms and carrying out a truancy patrol.
EADs help clean up neighbourhoods, making them more pleasant and
safer places for everyone to live in. They also aim to lower crime
levels and address anti-social behaviour.
Investigation
All agencies involved in the investigation of arson (police, fire,
insurance, CSI - Crime Scene investigators) work together when
investigating an arson incident to collect as much
information as possible.
Information is shared between the agencies to help
them with a speedy and positive investigation.
The work of Avon Fire & Rescue’s Fire Investigation
Team has been recognised nationally. In 2006, the Chair of the
Government led Arson Control Forum commended the team for
its close working relationship with police and CSI teams.
Detection
The ATF also has a full time Police Detective in the team, who
coordinates the police and fire service investigations. They
also give vital expertise at scenes of arson, and suspected
arson, to ensure the maximum amount of evidence is preserved and
obtained.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service fully supports the Government
initiative to reduce arson fires by 10% by 31 March 2010. The
benchmark figure to measure the team’s success is the number of
deliberate fires that AF&RS attended in 2001.
Car Clear
The ATF pioneered the innovative Car Clear scheme, which
aims to remove abandoned cars before they are set light.
This scheme has been a huge success in reducing the number of
deliberate vehicle fires.
Further information
Arson Leaflet - What's the cost? (PDF 575kb,
opens in a new window)
You can find further information about the Government
initiative to reduce arson on the
Department for Communities and Local Government
website