HC Deb 23 March 1979 vol 964 c187W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of fires involving buildings in Bedfordshire in each of the past

FIRES IN OCCUPIED BUILDINGS RECORDED AS ATTENDED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY FIRE BRIGADES IN BEDFORDSHIRE
Number of fires
Location of fire
Year Total—all locations Dwellings§ Agricultural premises Industrial premises Other
1973 634 332 28 70 204
1974* .. .. .. .. ..
1975 .. .. .. .. ..
1976 660 378 30 62 190
1977 684 388 30 71 195
* Figures available only at disproportionate cost.
Figures not available.
Figures include estimates for the period of the fire service strike when not all fires were reported in detail.
§ Including flats and maisonettes.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the number of cases of suspected arson in Bedfordshire in each of the past five years, the number of prosecutions brought and convictions obtained.

Dr. Summerskill

The number of offences of arson recorded by the Bedfordshire police was 88 in 1973 and 86 in 1974. For the years 1975 to 1977 information was published annually in"Criminal Statistics, England and Wales "—Table 28 of the volume for 1977.

In the Bedfordshire police force area, 31 persons were proceeded against for offences of arson in 1976; the number was 15 in 1977. Information on prosecutions in earlier years, and on the number of persons found guilty for all the years requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.