1. We’re here for you. “European Exchange of Best Practice in Arson Investigation and Prevention” European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention Dave Myers MSc. Project Manager Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

2. We’re here for you. 1. Project partners and funding 2. Origins of the project 3. Aim of the project 4. Key objective and deliverables 5. What has been achieved so far? 6. What remains to be completed? 7. Conclusion - Looking beyond the life of the project … Content European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

3. We’re here for you. 1. Project Partners and Funding European Commission Directorate-General for Environment Funding January 2007 to December 2008 European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

4. We’re here for you. EU Countries EU Candidate Countries Iceland Sweden Finland Norway Spain Portugal France Germany Italy Turkey Greece Cyprus Estonia Latvia Lithuania Poland United Kingdom Republic of Ireland Romania Bulgaria Hungary Austria Czech Rep. Slovak Republic Denmark Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Croatia Rep. of Macedonia Malta Switzerland EU Countries EU Candidate Countries Non EU/Candidate Countries Countries included within the project European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

5. We’re here for you. Revinge Workshop (Sweden) Workshop 2005, Swedish Rescue Services Agency Arson - some organizations already exist, both national and international Need and support for other European fire networks However…still need support for European network for ALL arson practitioners: –investigators, prevention specialists, forensic officers –multiple organizations – fire, police, forensic, forestry European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention 2. Origins of the Project

6. We’re here for you. 3. Aim of the Project “To raise awareness in Europe of best practice in arson investigation and prevention” European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention Help to reduce the number and impact of criminal fires annually set within Europe – deaths, injuries and property damage.

7. We’re here for you. Deliverables Network of contacts Training modules for basic level fire investigation course Database of best practice Register of experts Recommendations for secure web-based IT platform “The Fire Crime in Europe Conference 2008” 4. Key Objective and Deliverables European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention Facilitate greater cross-border and interagency networking, cooperation and joint working The foundations for a formal European network of arson practitioners

8. We’re here for you. A. Contact Network Circulated project information to chief officers, multi-national organisations and professional organisations. For instance, ENFSI, European Network Forensic Science Institutes IAAI, International Association of Arson Investigators, Association of Fire Investigators in Spain (ANINCE). We now have 525 individuals in 338 organizations in the network Articles/bulletins published in the UK, France, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Poland and Belgium. 5. What has been completed? European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

9. We’re here for you. European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention B. Questionnaire Surveys 242 distributed to Fire, Police, Government Officers 48 distributed to Forensic Laboratories, (ENFSI Fire and Explosion Work Group) 156 returned - 65% response rate – 42 returned - 89% response rate General data gathering on practices in Europe Copies of the report available on request

10. We’re here for you. Fire Investigation Workshop in Poznan, Poland September 2007 Northumberland Arson Task Force, Fire Service College in Poznan, Poznan Police, PZU Insurance. 1 st joint training of Fire, Police and Insurance in Poland European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention C. Develop Fire Investigation Training Modules

11. We’re here for you. European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention D. European Register of Experts/Specialists Role to provide advice, expertise, experience Willing to consider placements/exchanges Criteria developed – qualifications, experience, professional role Currently 51 experts enrolled 17 countries represented Already processing requests – 3 processed so far

12. We’re here for you. E. European Database of Best Practice Criteria developed – evidence of success, transferability to other countries etc. Collecting information on: aims, design, implementation, evaluation Standard forms – comparability, ease of reference European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention Currently 30 submissions of best practice 10 countries represented Already processing requests – 7 processed so far

13. We’re here for you. F. European Conference 2 Days 15 th -16 th September Delegates from 21 countries. Speakers form 11 countries Workshop and plenary sessions Support was confirmed for the development of an EU web based network for the exchange of information. European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

14. We’re here for you. European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention G. Recommendations for web-based platform Connecting a European network of arson practitioners The initial scope of the bid was to develop proposals for a web based IT platform Going beyond the scope of the project proposal: Partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Resources and skills already available Developed a prototype web-based system Produce a document with proposals to support funding applications

15. We’re here for you. Expansion of: –Register of Experts –Best Practice Database Pilot of prototype web-portal Final report to the European Commission March 2009 2008 Continuation of the project activities 6. What remains to be completed? European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention

16. We’re here for you. Development of a formal European Network of Arson Practitioners 7. Conclusion - Looking beyond the life of the project… European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention After the project – the proposed network During the Project Before the Project

17. We’re here for you. Possible activities of a formal network: Annual or bi-annual conference/meeting Regional meetings – N, S, E,W Europe Electronic newsletter Web-based portal Provide support to others European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention Organization of a formal European network Creation of Central Coordinating body Current project partners, other interested parties (5 other organizations formally expressed interest)

18. We’re here for you. Thank you for listening Dave Myers MSc. For further details contact:- Dr Rob Stacey Arson Task Force Project Officer Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service rstacey@northumberland.gov.uk Tel: +44 (0)1670 534794 European exchange of best practice in arson investigation and prevention