The information requested is not available centrally. The Department's economic cost of fire model uses information on total insured fire losses provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). ABI data distinguish between domestic and commercial fire losses, but do not differentiate between arson and non-arson fires. The cost of fire model uses the proportion of fires that are due to arson to estimate the percentage of insured losses that are due to arson.
Estimates for the cost of arson to the economy for the five years to 2004 are shown as follows. 2004 is the last year for which estimates are available. Around 40 per cent. of the estimated costs are due to measures taken in anticipation of arson fires, such as installing fire prevention measures.
£ million Total cost (including costs in anticipation) Total cost (excluding costs in anticipation) 2000 2,155 l,289 2001 2,442 l,513 2002 2,581 l,587 2003 2,768 1,694 2004 2,445 l,366 Source: Communities and Local Government Economic cost of fire model