Derelict and Unoccupied Property
Property Protection Scheme
This scheme has been put in place through a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) between Arson Task Force (ATF)
partners Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service (GFRS),
Gloucestershire Police (GP) and the six District/Borough
Councils.
Click
here to download a pdf of the ArsonTaskforce Memorandum
of Understanding (105 KB)
The ethos of the MOU is that derelict
and unoccupied properties can be secured before an arson
attack takes place.
The initial group of properties
being dealt with are those properties where GFRS have
already attended fires; the analysis of the trends and
patterns of arson attack plainly reveal that when GFRS
have attended one fire at a derelict/unoccupied property,
there will inevitably be repeated arson attacks.
The next phase of activity is
to identify the arson “hot spot” areas; we
will then request a list of derelict/unoccupied properties
from the District/Borough councils:
The Scheme
The Property Protection Scheme
is a risk assessment based protocol; each property is
assessed by GFRS, GP and the local council for the risk
of arson, anti-social behaviour and environmental impact.
Any additional security measures are then classed as
urgent or non-urgent:.
Non-Urgent
boarding up of unsecured property will be carried out
under section 29 (6) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1982: A notice is served on the owner
or occupier describing the works required and a period
of time for them to be carried out usually 14 days.
This act may only be used when the owner of the property
is known and the works required are not urgent. Failure
to comply with the notice will result in the Local Authority
carrying out the works in default. An account will then
be forwarded to the owner/occupier for payment, if no
response then the debt will be pursued through the courts.
Urgent
boarding up will also be carried out under section 29
(8) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1982. Under this act the work may be carried out
immediately without the service of notice, the cost
of the works may again be recovered from the owner/occupier.
The same process of debt recovery may again be followed
However, it should be noted that
urgent boarding up does not mean immediate boarding
up; properties can be secured within 24 hours but not
immediately following a fire.
The GFRS have no power under the
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982;
the local District/Borough Council enforces this Act
and as such the local council must give the go ahead
for any additional security measures.
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