Fire Service Circular 10/1992
( also issued as )
Home Office Circular 106/1992
ANNEX A
SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED
IN THE INVESTIGATION OF FIRES OF DOUBTFUL ORIGIN
When the fire officer in charge at the scene of a fire suspects that the cause of the fire may be
"of doubtful origin", the following procedures will be adopted:-
- the fire officer in charge at the scene of the fire will ensure that the scene is preserved
undisturbed as far as possible and will immediately report, or have reported, his suspicions
to Fire Brigade Control who will in turn immediately inform Police Control
- Fire Brigade Control, on receiving such a report, will dispatch to the scene an officer of
Station Officer rank or above and, if the circumstances of the fire warrant it, alert the
specialist fire investigation team (if one has been formed)
- Police Control, upon receiving such a report will dispatch an investigating officer to the fire
ground who will decide what other specialist organisations to call in, ie a Scene of Crime
Officer (SOCO), Fire Investigation Team, Forensic Science Service
- the nominated police officer will be responsible for the conduct of any investigation into any
crime which is suspected or identified in relation to the fire. Any such investigation should
be conducted in liaison with the senior fire officer and, where applicable, the brigade fire
investigation team as well as in liaison with the forensic science service if it is called in.
The investigating officer might also wish to consider enlisting the co-operation of any loss
adjuster involved as they may be able to provide information valuable to the investigation
- the actions outlined at (1) to (4) above in no way remove from a police officer at the scene
of a fire the responsibility of notifying his police operations room should he feel that a fire is
of "doubtful origin"
- the police action at (3) and (4) above will apply equally when suspicion is raised from any
source that a fire is "of doubtful origin"
- in the event of a fire where serious injury or death results to any person(s), the reporting
and investigative procedures specified in (1) to (4) above will be followed whether or not the
fire is suspected to be of "doubtful origin", {see also (10) below}
- the senior fire officer and the police investigating officer will be aware of the potential
contribution which the forensic science service can make to a fire investigation. However, it
is the responsibility of the police investigating officer, to determine whether a forensic
scientist should be requested to attend the scene
- the Forensic Science Service is now an Agency of the Home Office. Its fire investigation
services are available to the police and other investigating agencies, such as fire brigades.
Its staff are available to attend fire scenes if requested to do so and to analyze fire debris
for the presence of accelerants. It is particularly important for forensic scientists to attend
scenes when it is anticipated that a prosecution may result from the investigation
- the vital importance of scene preservation and the collection of evidence for subsequent
scientific/ technical investigation by the forensic science service cannot be
over-emphasised. It is the responsibility of the senior fire brigade officer, insofar as he is
able, to note and make a record of any suspicious phenomena at the scene up to the point
where the fire is extinguished. Thereafter, the scene should be vacated and preserved by
the fire brigade until the arrival of the police investigating officer. It is the responsibility of the
police investigating officer, in consultation with the Scene of Crime Officer and having
taken into consideration any advice offered by the senior fire officer, to take appropriate
measures to preserve such evidence as may be needed for investigation by the forensic
science service. It is essential that no evidential materials are removed from fire scenes
which are to be examined by the forensic science service. When a fire scene is not
attended by a forensic scientist, it is the responsibility of the Scene of Crime Officer to
collect and package any materials requiring examination at a forensic science laboratory
unless standing arrangements have been made between the fire brigade and the forensic
science service for fire officers to collect and package such materials
- where criminal proceedings are likely police investigating officers will be aware of the
advantages of being in a position to produce evidence from a forensic scientist. Where
expert witness is required, this should be provided by a forensic scientist
- the fullest possible liaison between the police and fire services is desirable in the course of
fire investigation; it should include:-
the passing to the fire service of any relevant information for recording purposes and any appropriate action the opportunity for a senior fire officer to participate in briefings and conferences held
by the senior investigating officer with his team and other invited experts, especially in the case of a major investigation a full and free exchange of information between . the police fire and forensic science
services.
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