IT’S ARSON investigators have achieved 200 convictions in 10 years, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has announced.
During that time the Arson Task Force has investigated more than 2,000 fires, 1,300 of them arson, resulting in a 70 per cent conviction rate and sentences totalling more than 500 years.
Task Force manager Damian Watts said: “The work we do pushes the boundaries of fire investigation, and some of our research could have wide reaching applications.”
He believes first-hand experience mixed with research and academia can achieve even better results in the field, and to this end has gained a teaching qualification and is working on a master’s degree.
Joint projects so far with the University of Portsmouth include fire patterning and safety regulation for flammable products, and offenders rehabilitation.
So date, the rehabilitation project has worked with 100 fire-setters, and seen no repeat offenders.