1.1 The Arson Prevention Bureau has recently completed a study to determine the extent of fire brigade involvement in the investigation of fires of doubtful origin. The results of the survey were gathered by means of a questionnaire circulated to all 66 fire brigades in the United Kingdom, 61 of whom responded. A summary of the salient features of the survey appears below.

Estimated Brigade Time Spent on Fires of Doubtful Origin
Fire Brigades Perception of the Incidence of Deliberate Fires in Recent Years
Activities in which Brigades Engage in Order to Prevent Deliberate Fires
Deployment of Resourses in Tackling Deliberate Fires
Perceived Motives for Deliberate Fires
Means of Recording Statistical Information Relating to Deliberate Fires
Training of Operational Fire-Fighters in Fire Investigation
Assistance where the Cause of a Fire cannot be Identified by the Ops Fire Fighter
Responsibility for the Investigation of Suspicious Fires
Details of Liason Arrangements between Brigades and Police Forces
Examples of Good Practice