Firesetting among 18-23 year old un-apprehended adults: a UK community study
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2021-0026 |
| Published date | 14 January 2022 |
| Date | 14 January 2022 |
| Pages | 140-154 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
| Author | Emma R. Barrowcliffe,Nichola Tyler,Theresa A. Gannon |
Firesetting among 18-23 year old
un-apprehended adults: a UK
community study
Emma R. Barrowcliffe, Nichola Tyler and Theresa A. Gannon
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to assess the prevalenceof firesetting in a sample of young UK adults aged
18 to 23years and to compare their characteristics with non-firesettingindividuals.
Design/methodology/approach –Two-hundred and forty male (n = 119, 49.6%) and female (n = 121,
50.4%) participants were recruited through Prolific Academic. Comparisons were made between self-
reported firesetting and non-firesetting participants on a range of demographic, fire-related and personality
measures. Factors predictive of firesetting status were examined using hierarchical logistic regression.
Findings –Twenty-five percent of participants (n = 60) reported igniting a deli berate fire. Logistic regression
was used to examine the ability of parental supervision and behavioural issues (e.g., witnessing domestic
violence, experimenting with fire before age 10 and family hist ory of firesetting), antisocial behaviours (e.g.,
having criminal friends, impulsivity, teenage access to fi re paraphernalia, skipping class more than once per
week, taken any illegal drugs and participation i n criminal behaviour) and fire-related interests, attitudes and
propensities in predicting firesetting status. Factor s found to distinguish firesetting and non-firesetting
participants included the following: experimented with fire befo re 10years of age, family history of firesetting,
impulsivity, teenageaccess to fire paraphernalia, participation in criminal behaviourand the Fire Setting Scale.
Practical implications –The results provide key information about potential risk factors relating to
un-apprehendedfiresetting in the general population.
Originality/value –This research adds to the small body of literature examining firesetting in the general
population. It refines previously used methodologies, presents the first research study to examine the preval ence
of firesetting behaviour in emerging adults and enhances our understanding of un-apprehended firesetting.
Keywords Adolescent, Youth, Arson, Firesetter, Deliberate firesetting, Fire lighting, Un-apprehended,
Fire interest
Paper type Research paper
The Fire and Rescue Service in England attended 65,146 deliberate fires between
April 2019 and the end of March 2020 which resulted in 55 fatalities and 1,024 non-
fatal injuries (Lader, 2021). However, detection rates are low with only approximately
8% of perpetrators identified and even fewer convicted of arson (Arson Control Forum,
2003). Given the significant human costs associated with intentional firesetting,
practitioners, government agencies and policy makers are rightly concerned with
preventing and reducing deliberate fires. It is therefore important to understand the
prevalence, nature and correlates of firesetting in the general population, to be able to
design and implement effective prevention strategies.
Prevalence of un-apprehended firesetting
Most research on firesetting has utilised apprehended samples (i.e. individuals detained in
prison or secure hospitals) or individuals convicted of arson (Dickensand Sugarman, 2012).
Emma R. Barrowcliffe is
based at the School Law,
Policing and Social
Sciences, Canterbury
Christ Church University,
Canterbury, UK.
Nichola Tyler is based at
the School of Psychology,
Victoria University of
Wellington, Wellington,
New Zealand.
Theresa A. Gannon is
based at the School of
Psychology, Keynes
College, University of Kent,
Canterbury, UK
Received 7 June 2021
Revised 14 September 2021
Accepted 15 October 2021
PAGE 140 jJOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRAC TICE jVOL. 8 NO. 3 2022, pp. 140-154, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-06-2021-0026
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