A NEW team to track down arsonists who torch businesses for the insurance money was launched in Merseyside.
The Flare team, made up of detectives, investigators and forensic experts from both the police and fire brigade, will examine every blaze at commercial properties.
They will be looking for the telltale signs and prosecute anyone who has deliberately burned down their own business, or got someone else to do it.
In the first six months of last year, firefighters in Merseyside dealt with 454 arsons, 118 of which were at business premises.
From January to June this year, they have dealt with 467 arsons, with 141 at commercial properties, a rise of 19%. Each arson costs the economy an average of £50,000.
Acting chief fire officer Michael Hagen said: “In times of economic hardship, we see deliberately started fires rise as people are tempted to try and rid themselves of financial problems through insurance claims.
“But this new team will investigate every arson and we will bring charges where we can.”
Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “Arson carries a potential life sentence in the courts and if someone dies as result of the fire, it is murder.”
