LOTHIAN AND BORDERS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
REDUCING MINOR INCIDENTS OF FIRE-RAISING IN EDINBURGH
A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The Brigade has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City
of Edinburgh Council and Lothian and Borders Police, to develop a coordinated approach to dealing with instances of fire-raising of a minor nature,
within the City of Edinburgh. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding
is attached for members’ information and interests.
1.2
2.
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The development of these arrangements will assist in providing a cohesive and
joined-up delivery of service to the citizens of Edinburgh in this area of
activity. Details of progress will be reported through our existing management
arrangements.
RECOMMENDATION
The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and endorse the development and
implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding aimed at reducing the minor
incidents of fire-raising in Edinburgh.
hi-{&
BRIANAL AWAY
Chief Fire Officer
September 2005
J
A PARTNERSEUP APPROACH AIMED AT
REDUCING MINOR INCIDENTS OF FIRER4ISING IN
-EDINBURGH
Memorandum of Understanding
Introduction
l b s Memorandum of Understanding is designed to provide a partnership approach
aimed at reducing minor incidents of Fireraising in Edinburgh.
Statistics from Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade have
revealed a rise in the instance of reported fire-raising across their respective areas.
T h s rise is also reflected w i t h the City of Edinburgh. Further investigation has
revealed that, generally speaking, the reported incidents are of a minor nature and
m a d y of an opportunistic character, where ready materials are set alight. Examples
include, wheelie bins, abandoned cars, collections of rubbish and waste materials and
un-occupied dwelling houses.
Although damage is generally mirlirnal the potential is clear for more serious
consequences. It is thought that there may be considerable under reporting of t h s
crime and of those crimes that are reported and solved by L o h m and Borders Police,
the offenders are generally speaking young persons.
The nature of this problem affords partner agencies an opportunity to make a positive
impact th~oughjoint worlung and this Memorandum of Understanding has been
produced as a minimal service requirement for the agencies involved.
The Memorandum of Understanding aligns with the joint Police and Fire Brigade Fire
Investigation protocol document and the Fire Brigade procedure ‘Fire Precautions in
Common Property - CGA’.
--LOTI3I.AJN AND BORDERS POLICE
Lothian and Borders Police will undertake to respond immediately to caIls fclr
assistance at instances of fireraising where life is endangered in line with the
agreed call attendance protocol between 1,otfLla.n and Borders Police and FLIe
Brigade and in line with Lothian and Borders Police Call Grading Protocol.
We will undertake an appropriate investigation iiito all acts of nirnind fireraising
reported to us.
The Crime Manager withn the Divisional Intelligence Unit will meet quarterly
with the Fire Brigade’s Community Safety Manager (Community Services) to
discuss firerasing statistics with a view to improving acciuacy and discussing hot
spot analysis.
From analysis of instances of reported fireraismg, the Divisional Intelligence Unit
will task crime; preverltlon officers to conduct crime prevention surveys in
identified problematic neighbourhoods or locations, with a view to recommending
target hardening, target removal and educational measures as appropriate.
As a result of Crime Pattern analysis we will notify the Housing Department of
my hot spot locations where it is thought it may be advantageous to consider
improving security for unoccupied Council owned dwelling houses.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Environmental Wardens will remove all apparently abandoned motor vehicles
w i h 24 hours, where it is assessed that there is a likelihood that they will be set
on fire. Contact on 529 3030 or by E mail to: [email protected]
Materials that have been dumped on streets or in open space and considered to be
a fire risk will be removed w i t h three hours by contacting the Rapid Response
Unit on Freephone: 0808 100 33 66.
Environmental Wardens will undertake any appropriate investigation into the
abandonment of materials in the street or open air and where offenders are
detected institute legal proceedings.
Trading Standards Officers will make investigation into all sales of petroleum by
licence holders to persons under 16 years of age and take appropriate enforcement
action.
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade may ask for assistance for the removal of
combustible material from common stairs. Thzs will be dealt with in accordance
with the agreed procedures as outlined in appendix A attached.
a
0
e
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LOTHIAN AND BORDERS FIRE BRlGADE
a
a
e
a
a
During our community operations, we will immediately notify Environmental
Wardens of the presence of any apparently abandoned motor vehcles, where it is
assessed that there is a ldcelihood that they will be set on fire.
Under the relevant legislation, the Brigade may contact Environmental and
Consumer Services to remove combustible substances or anythmg that might
obstruct exit fiom, or access to common property. 731s in accordance with the
relevant Brigade procedure ‘Fire Precautions in Common Property - CGA.’
All other instances of apparently abandoned materials considered to be a fire risk
will be reported immediately to the Environmental and Consumer Services Rapid
Response Unit (freephone 0808 100 33 66).
The Fire Brigade’s Comnunity Safety Manager (Community Services) will meet
quarterly with the Lothian and Borders Police, “A” Division Intelligence Unit
Manager to discuss reported fireraising statistics with a view to operational
tashg.
Where analysis indicates that a neighbourhood has a h g h incidence of fireraising
or in response to an identified local problem, the Brigade will conduct community
safety awareness sessions in conjunction with the Police as necessary.
HOUSING DEPARTMENT
Area Teams and Care Housing will use the services Fire Damage Procedures
backed up by local intelligence to analyse specific incidents and trends. Ths will
include the cost of remedial works required.
Where necessary specific action plans will be put in place to resolve identified
issues. These action plans will cover both capital programme (improving
security/alteIing layout) and management intervention responses (providing
suppodageeing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts).
h areas where housing Area Teams have a presence we will put in place a
planned series of estate walk-abcuts. Part of the remit will include a focus on
identifying and resolving incidents of fireraising.
In areas where a Community Warden Scheme is operating, we will undertake
regular patrols to emure that these officers record and remove dumped items in
common areas of properties within 24 hours of being reported. Additionally these
officers will investigate responsibility and take appropriate enforcement action
where the Council is the landlord or pass information to Environmental and
Consumer Services for further action.
As a result of our monitoring of public space, we will notify Environmental
Wardens of the presence of any apparentIy abandoned motor vehcles.
Any collections of apparently dumped materials that are identified as a result of
our monitoring of public space will be reported immediately to the Environmental
and Consumer Semices Rapid Response Unit (keephone 0808 100 33 66).
COMMUNITY SAFETY UNIT
Edinburgh Cormnunity Safety Partnershp will provide support in evaluating ths
agreement and partner agencies will report on progress initially twice a year
(September and March).
GUIDANCE
NOTE
TASK FORCE AND NIGHT CLEANSING OPERATIONS
UPLIFT OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERlAL
FROM COMMON STAIRS
Form time to time Lothian & Borders Fire Brigade may ask for assistance for
the removal of combustible material from common stairs.
The following procedure should be adopted to ensure proper recording of
actions and appropriate payments to the DSO.
1. Requests for assistance will come directly from a senior officer within
Lothian & Borders Fire Brigade (LBFB).
2. The request will be for the removal of COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
representing an immediate threat to life.
3. Requests should be responded to immediately.
4. The Senior Officer will remain on-site for the purposes of instructing work.
5. On completion of the task the Senior Officer will issue a pink confirmation
slip certifying that the material was removed and disposed of on the
instruction of the Fire Authority.
6. The pink confirmation slip should be forwarded to the Client Officer,
currently P G Scott who will arrange to cover the situation with a
retrospective instruction for the purposes of billing and payment.
7. P G Scott will report requests for assistance through the Confirm system
on a monthly basis.
Note compiled by:
Paul G Scott
Service Manager
Waste Management
08 January 2002
LIST OF CONTACTS
Lothan and Borders Fire Brigade
Community Safety Manager (Community Services)
Brigade Headquarters
Lauriston Place
EDINBURGH EH3 9DE
0131 228 2401
City of Edinburgh Council Environmental and Consumer Services
Environmental Wardens
Chesser House
Gorgie Road,
EDINBURGH
01314695328
e mail - [email protected]
City of Edinburgh Council Community Safety Unit
12 St Giles Street
EDINBURGH
0131 469 3827
City of Edmburgh Council Housing Department
Mr Andrew Henderson
23 Waterloo Place
EDINBURGH
01315297290
e mail - [email protected]
CCTV Central Monitoring Facility
01314693910
e mail - [email protected]
Loth~anand Borders Police, ‘A’ Division, City of Edinburgh
Inspector Alan D u ~ e
Local Authority Liaison Officer
Wellington Court
Waterloo Place
EDINBURGH
0131 469 3986
MEMOFXINDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
On behalf of our respective departments, we agree to participate in this co-ordinated
approach to dealing with instances of fireraising of a minor nature.
SIGNATORIES
For and behalf of
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade
For and behalf of The City of
Edinburgh Environmental and
Consumer Services
For and on behalf of
The City of Edinburgh
Community Safety Unit
For and on behalf of
The City of Edinburgh
Housing Department
For and on behalf of
‘A’ Division,
Lothan and Borders Police