7.1 From the response to the questionnaire it was apparent that a relatively small number of brigades had a specific system for recording details of deliberate fires.

7.2 Only 26% of respondents held data on incidents of deliberate fires on computers whereas 54% said that they had no specific system for recording such information separately. Some brigades had plans to install or expand their use of computer equipment to include this facility but financial considerations had hitherto prevented this. It appeared from the survey that the majority of brigades held no more than the information required for completion of the FDR1 form which was insufficient for the Bureau's purposes. There was also some confusion about the terminology used to report certain fires and variation in the way in which they were subsequently categorised.