Arson in the UK: What Every Business Needs to Know

Richard Kirby
Jun 12
2 min read

Above: Aftermath of an arson attack on a vacant industrial property.

Arson is one of the most devastating and preventable causes of fire in the UK. For business owners, the consequences can be severe — from total property loss to long-term business interruption.

📊 UK Arson Statistics

According to recent government data:

47% of all fire incidents attended by fire services are deliberate.
In non-residential buildings like shops, warehouses, and offices, around 30% of fires are started intentionally.
In the year to March 2023, there were over 60,000 deliberate fires across England and Wales.
The average commercial fire costs around £70,000, often much more with arson.

🏢 Why Are Businesses at Risk?

Businesses are frequently targeted due to:

Isolated or unsecured premises
High-value stock or flammable materials
External disputes or vandalism
Inadequate lighting, fencing, or CCTV

Even empty buildings can be attractive targets for arsonists, particularly if not regularly checked.

🔥 What Are the Consequences?

Above: Inside a fire-damaged building—stock and structure destroyed by deliberate ignition.

An arson attack doesn’t just damage property — it can destroy livelihoods. Impacts include:

Complete loss of stock, data, or machinery
Business downtime and financial hardship
Insurance hikes or loss of cover
Prosecution for non-compliance with fire safety regulations
Risk to life for staff or the public

🧯 Your Legal Responsibilities

As a responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you're legally obliged to:

Carry out and regularly update a Fire Risk Assessment
Secure all access points and storage areas
Install and maintain fire alarms and security systems
Train staff in fire prevention and evacuation
Keep bins, flammables, and ignition sources away from the building

✅ How 20a Limited Can Help

At 20a Limited, we take a building-by-building approach. No checklists — just tailored, professional Fire Risk Assessments that highlight vulnerabilities like arson and give you real solutions.

We can assess: