Fire Setter Interventions & Restorative Practice
When to Refer
The ATF engage with Adults and Children and Young people who are involved in deliberate fire setting or have committed offences of arson. Often our engagement will involve parents/carers, schools, social care, Mental Health Services, Police, and a variety of other partner agencies.
The programme has been designed to educate and deflect people away from this type of behaviour.
Intervention Activity
When working with children and young people we aim to complete a minimum of 2 educational intervention sessions.
The first session takes place within the home environment (where possible) to get to know the individual, to complete a Home Fire Safety Visit and to collate any additional information.
The second session is held either in the home (if appropriate) or at school or a local fire station or suitable venue. This is where the main part of the intervention will be completed. Wherever possible we use Restorative Practices to reinforce our safety message.
We also provide this service for adults with convictions of arson who are serving prison sentences or who are on remand in prison for arson offences.
As a result we work closely with Probation Services and Youth Offending Teams.
What is the Firesetters Intervention Scheme?
The Firesetters Intervention Scheme works with children and young people – up to the age of 18 – who play with fire or who have set fires. If you know a child or young person you are concerned about, or you have spotted worrying signs, talk to us. Acting now can save lives.
Who is the service for?
Any child or young person up to the age of 18 living in London. We support anyone who knows or works with a child or young person who needs help, though most typically, parents, carers, teachers and social workers might contact us about a young person in their care.
Is there a lower age limit?
No. We have worked with children from 18 months – our caseworkers are all trained in talking to children in a way appropriate to their age and needs.
What about children with different needs?
Sessions are tailored to meet the needs of all children and young people. We are experienced in working with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and our service is inclusive. For example, we can provide a BSL interpreter if needed.
What service do we provide?
Our specialist team offers tailored, one-to-one fire safety education to the young person as well as advice for their parents or carers. The service is free and since it launched in 2001, we have received nearly 4000 referrals, helping to reduce deliberate fires and address fire safety concerns in all 33 London boroughs.
What to expect?
What help and support do we provide?
The help and support we provide is tailored to the child or young person. After a child has been referred and parents or carers have given permission for sessions to start, we’ll visit the child’s home. Further sessions typically take place at school or another suitable location. The caseworkers will work with the child or young person and their carers to find out more about what’s been happening, and establish a trusting relationship. From there on, the support is personalised to what’s best for the individual.
How do we talk to children and young people?
The team don’t scare children using shock tactics – it’s been proven that education and an understanding approach is more effective at changing firesetting behaviour. Each session is age appropriate and tailored to suit the child’s individual needs and abilities.
Do we provide fire safety advice too?
Yes. When we work with a child or young person, we may also offer to support the parents or carers with a home fire safety visit, where we can share advice on fire safety and fit free smoke alarms if they are needed.
What happens afterwards?
Once FIS intervention work has ended, we get in touch at 6 months and 2 years to check how things are going – we’re here if the child or young person needs further support where appropriate. The good news is that these calls confirm over 90 percent of children we work with don’t set further fires after our intervention.
Why is it important to act?
By contacting FIS, you may save lives…
It’s really important to act if you are worried about a child who displays firesetting behaviour. Whatever the child’s motives, firesetting should never be ignored.
Many fires are started by under 18s.
Firesetting isn’t usually a ‘one-off’ – one in two firesetters will go on and repeat the behaviour without intervention.
If you’re worried about a child or young person, please contact us. You could save their life – and the lives of others.
How to Refer
Notify the Arson Task Force of any fire setting concerns by completing our concerns around fire Setting behaviour form (professional or parent/carer only)
Fire Risk Assessment (worked example for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)) (PDF 389KB)
