Data collected from police forces around Britain has laid bare the shockingly low rate of people being charged for arson crimes. Legal Expert’s research into arson offences also included a review of arson compensation claims, finding that just 17 people successfully claimed compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) in 2024.
More than 30 police forces across the UK shared data which showed that just 16% of all arson offences led to an arrest, while the rate of offenders being charged with the crime was a miniscule 5%.
In comparison, data from ten forces revealed that 70% of investigations were closed without being resolved because the arsonist got away unidentified.
This data was last updated on 19/03/2025, with seven police forces yet to return a response to Legal Expert’s request for information.
Surprising lack of arson compensation claims
Arson is one of the ‘crimes of violence’ recognised by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a government-sponsored agency. Those injured physically or psychologically by the crime can make an arson compensation claim and seek a payment from the CICA.
Perhaps pointing to a lack of public knowledge about the CICA, only 456 people attempted to claim between 2022 and 2024. Despite the number of claims shooting up from 126 in 2022 to 192 a couple of years later, the number of claims is a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands of arson offences seen in the UK.
In the same time period, the CICA considered 464 new or existing claims. Only 76 were accepted, including just 17 in 2024.
194 were refused, while another 194 are still under assessment. The CICA said that the main reason for turning away claims was that the incident was not deemed “a crime of violence”.
London was the most common source of arson crimes leading to claims, with 21 – seven in each year – prompting a victim to seek compensation. In 2024, 10 victims of Bradford-based arson sought compensation from the CICA.
Legal Expert criminal injury specialist Ellie Lamey said:
“It’s incredible that so few people have made a claim when thousands and thousands of arson offences have affected lives around the country. With charge rates also being low, victims might be wondering how to get some form of justice.
“Victims who have sustained injuries, whether physical or psychological, due to violent crimes like arson have the right to seek compensation, and they don’t have to wait for someone to be charged or convicted of the offence to do so.
“As long as the crime is reported to the police and they cooperate with an investigation, victims can explore their chances of compensation through the CICA.
“We’ve helped many people who didn’t realise just how much they could receive by claiming with the support of an expert.”
Concerning number of young offenders
35 police forces across the UK recorded a total of 63,452 arson offences between January 2022 and December 2024. That works out as more than 1,700 incidents every month.
27 of them broke the figures down by arsonists’ gender, with the collated results showing that a man committed four out of every five arson attacks. North Wales had the highest rate of male offenders (88%), while Surrey Police had the most even split (68% identified as male, 32% as female).
Deeply concerning findings from 28 police forces revealed that young offenders made up a third of those spotted by police. In south east Wales, Gwent Police found that 60% of all offenders were under 18, while the figure was above 50% in North Wales, North Yorkshire and Wiltshire.
Only four police forces – those covering Greater London, Dorset, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire – found that fewer than one in five offenders were underage.
Sussex Police found that four investigations did not result in a charge because the offender was under 10, the age of criminal responsibility in Britain. It was not an unusual sight as many police forces flagged very young offenders, including some as young as four or five years old.
Arson offences fall but repeat offenders remain active
Positive news for police around the country is that arson crimes have fallen over the past three years. There were 22,610 in 2022, a number which dropped to 19,694 the year after.
In 2024, there was another significant decrease in offences, as 18,023 arson cases were placed on record.
The low arrest and charge rate do provide cause for concern, as well as the number of repeat offenders. Legal Expert asked police forces to find out how many identified offenders had been arrested or suspected of arson within five years of being recorded.
In total, 23 forces highlighted 1,319 repeat offenders. Some forces did not even go back five years – the 103 re-offenders in the West Midlands all had a prior record from January 1st 2021 at the earliest, while Bedfordshire Police explained that all their 13 repeat offenders had been suspected of arson at least once between 2022 and 2024 alone.
Surrey Police explained that one of their 33 offenders had been suspected of no fewer than 11 arson offences, in the most striking example of serial arsonists re-appearing in police records.
Learn more about arson compensation claims
If you have been hurt or suffered emotional trauma because of a violent arson attack, you may have the right to claim. Depending on the circumstances, you could be able to seek compensation directly from the perpetrator, or at least a vicariously liable third party.
Otherwise, you could explore claiming through the CICA. To give yourself the best possible chance of getting the criminal injury compensation you deserve, you might want to see if a professional can help.
Our specialist solicitors are experienced in handling arson compensation claims and could be instructed to assist you through all stages of a claim. Learn more today by calling 0800 073 8804 or asking about your claim online so a dedicated advisor can offer guidance.
Results by police force
Each set of results listed below has been collected from police forces through a Freedom of Information request. Police Scotland and West Mercia Police refused the request.
Avon & Somerset
2022 offences: 648
2023 offences: 686
2024 offences: 582
TOTAL: 1,916
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 183
Gender split: 76% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 30% of offenders were aged 18 or under, including three under-9s.
Repeat offenders: 43.
Investigations leading to arrest: 18%
Investigations leading to a charge: 5.48%
No suspect identified: 70% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Bristol – 844
Somerset – 358
South Gloucestershire – 284
North Somerset – 215
Bath and North East Somerset – 171
Bedfordshire
2022 offences: 250
2023 offences: 179
2024 offences: 183
TOTAL: 612
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 89 (including ‘attempted arson endangering life’)
Gender split: 83% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 29% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 13 people offended more than once between 2022 and 2024.
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.92%
No suspect identified: 67% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Luton – 184
Bedford – 106
Dunstable – 54
Houghton Regis – 28
Leighton Buzzard – 20
Cambridgeshire
2022 offences: 318
2023 offences: 409
2024 offences: 305
TOTAL: 1,032
Gender split: 85% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 29% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.55%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Peterborough – 403
Cambridge – 171
Huntingdon – 69
Wisbech – 64
March – 60
Cheshire
2022 offences: 293
2023 offences: 248
2024 offences: 206
TOTAL: 747
Gender split: 80% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 38% of offenders were aged 17 or under.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Warrington – 150
Crewe – 111
Northwich – 96
Runcorn – 92
Widnes – 79
Cleveland
2022 offences: 599
2023 offences: 501
2024 offences: 532
TOTAL: 1,632
Gender split: 82% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 24% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 27.
Investigations leading to arrest: 18%
Investigations leading to a charge: 6%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Hemlington – 117
Longlands and Beechwood – 75
Central [Middlesbrough] – 72
Brambles and Thorntree – 53
Stockton Town Centre – 53
Cumbria
2022 offences: 197
2023 offences: 168
2024 offences: 134
TOTAL: 499
Gender split: 82% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 39% of offenders were aged 17 or under.
Repeat offenders: 31.
Investigations leading to arrest: 29%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.81%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Carlisle – 139
Barrow-in-Furness – 115
Allerdale – 111
Copeland – 57
South Lakeland – 49
Derbyshire
2022 offences: 331
2023 offences: 322
2024 offences: 273
TOTAL: 926
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 273 (171 counts of ‘arson with intent to endanger life’ and 102 counts of ‘arson recklessly endangering life’)
Gender split: 82% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 24% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Investigations leading to a charge: 8.42%
Dorset
2022 offences: 141
2023 offences: 149
2024 offences: 155
TOTAL: 558
Injuries caused to victims: Six slight injuries, one serious injury.
Gender split: 73% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 17% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 19.
Investigations leading to arrest: 27%
Investigations leading to a charge: 6.29%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Bournemouth – 151
Poole – 100
Weymouth – 35
Christchurch – 27
Bridport – 17
Dyfed-Powys
2022 offences: 251
2023 offences: 162
2024 offences: 145
TOTAL: 558
Gender split: 73% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 20% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: Zero.
Investigations leading to arrest: 10%
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.23%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Llanelli – 105
Ammanford – 69
Pembrokeshire South – 60
Brecknockshire – 57
Montgomeryshire – 41
Essex
2022 offences: 1,345
2023 offences: 889
2024 offences: 978
TOTAL: 3,212
Number of victims confirmed injured by fires: Seven.
Gender split: 79% of identified offenders were male.
Repeat offenders: 112.
Investigations leading to arrest: 8%
Investigations leading to a charge: 0.06% (two charges/summons)
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Basildon – 492
Thurrock – 483
Tendring – 364
Colchester – 313
Southend-on-Sea – 256
Greater Manchester
2022 offences: 1,123
2023 offences: 1,161
2024 offences: 878
TOTAL: 3,162
Gender split: 80% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 33% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Investigations leading to arrest: 17%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Salford – 726
Manchester North – 627
Bolton – 467
Tameside – 433
Stockport – 391
Gwent
2022 offences: 1,081
2023 offences: 762
2024 offences: 555
TOTAL: 2,398
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 250.
Gender split: 81% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 60% of offenders were aged 18 or under. Four offenders were under the age of criminal responsibility.
Repeat offenders: 34.
Investigations leading to a charge: 1.5% (36 charged). Another 11 summonsed or handed a postal requisition.
No suspect identified: 83% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Lliswerry, Newport – 94
Blackwood – 85
Bettws, Newport – 82
Tredegar Park, Newport – 64
New Tredegar – 55
Hertfordshire
2022 offences: 240
2023 offences: 195
2024 offences: 220
TOTAL: 655
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 102
Gender split: 82% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 31% of offenders were aged 17 or under.
Repeat offenders: 15.
Investigations leading to arrest: 22%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.12%
No suspect identified: 68% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Dacorum – 110
North Herts – 80
East Herts – 73
St Albans – 72
Welwyn Hatfield – 64
Humberside
2022 offences: 580
2023 offences: 545
2024 offences: 563
TOTAL: 1,688
Gender split: 83% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 39% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 53.
Investigations leading to arrest: 16%
Investigations leading to a charge: 5.21%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Hull – 692
Grimsby – 315
Scunthorpe – 151
Cleethorpes – 74
Bridlington – 56
Kent
2022 offences: 779
2023 offences: 628
2024 offences: 540
TOTAL: 1,947
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 285 (includes 51 counts of ‘attempted arson endangering life’)
Gender split: 67% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 37% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Investigations leading to a charge: 5.6%
No suspect identified: 58% of investigations.
Worst five districts for arson attacks:
Medway – 341
Swale – 271
Canterbury – 172
Maidstone – 166
Thanet – 143
Worst five wards for arson attacks:
Sheppey East (Swale) – 87
Rochester West (Medway) – 42
Sheerness (Swale) – 37
Gillingham North (Medway) – 36
Gillingham South (Medway) – 36
Leicestershire
2022 offences: 772
2023 offences: 652
2024 offences: 456
TOTAL: 1,880
Cases where victims were injured: 13
Underage offenders: 39% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 133.
Investigations leading to arrest: 12%
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.99%
Worst five postcode areas for arson attacks:
LE3 (includes New Parks, Westcotes) – 297
LE2 (includes Oadby, Highfields) – 217
LE11 (Loughborough) – 202
LE4 (includes Beaumont Leys, Birstall) – 177
LE5 (includes Hamilton, Evington) – 125
Lincolnshire
2022 offences: 493
2023 offences: 458
2024 offences: 420
TOTAL: 1,371
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 124 (76 counts of ‘arson with intent to endanger life’, 48 counts of ‘arson recklessly endangering life’)
Underage offenders: 40% of offenders were aged 17 or under.
Repeat offenders: 159.
Investigations leading to arrest: 8%
Investigations leading to a charge: 2.26% (31 charged)
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Gainsborough Uphills – 114
Gainsborough Town South – 86
Skegness – 82
Lincoln Abbey – 81
Grantham Town East – 60
London (Met Police)
2022 offences: 1,894
2023 offences: 2,087
2024 offences: 2,430
TOTAL: 6,411
Gender split: 79% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 14% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 78.
Investigations leading to arrest: 19%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.84%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Greenwich – 354
Croydon – 313
Hillingdon – 304
Bromley – 278
Hounslow – 273
Worst five wards for arson attacks:
West Thamesmead, Greenwich – 141
Uxbridge, Hillingdon – 50
St Paul’s Cray, Bromley – 49
Feltham West, Hounslow – 47
Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth – 47
Norfolk
2022 offences: 406
2023 offences: 280
2024 offences: 312
TOTAL: 998
North Wales
2022 offences: 604
2023 offences: 437
2024 offences: 384
TOTAL: 1,425
Gender split: 88% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 46% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 42.
Investigations leading to arrest: 9%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.14%
Worst five areas for arson attacks (areas split into local policing regions):
West Conwy – 206
Wrexham Rural – 195
Denbighshire Coastal & Abergele – 192
Wrexham Town – 172
Flintshire North – 168
North Yorkshire
2022 offences: 214
2023 offences: 154
2024 offences: 156
TOTAL: 524
Cases where victims suffered harm (either fatal, physical, psychological, emotional, financial, neglect or slight injury): 422
Gender split: 77% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 54% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 10.
Investigations leading to a charge: 6.3%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
York – 142
Scarborough & Ryedale – 138
Hambleton & Richmondshire – 93
Harrogate – 81
Selby – 54
Northumbria
2022 offences: 1,311
2023 offences: 1,154
2024 offences: 1,084
TOTAL: 3,549
Gender split: 81% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 40% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 271.
Investigations leading to arrest: 16%
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.27%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Byker & Walker – 219
Riverside & West Shields – 210
Sunderland West – 201
Westerhope & Newburn – 169
Sunderland North – 158
Nottinghamshire
2022 offences: 777
2023 offences: 575
2024 offences: 541
TOTAL: 1,893
Gender split: 86% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 14% of offenders were aged 18 or under. This includes 89 confirmed offenders* under the age of 14.
*The gender and age figures make use of available data only. Where there were fewer than five people in a certain group (e.g. girls under 14 years old), Nottinghamshire Police did not give a figure, so they have been omitted entirely.
Repeat offenders: 26.
Investigations leading to arrest: 14%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.01%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Bassetlaw – 359
Mansfield – 270
Ashfield – 185
[Nottingham] City North – 178
Newark & Sherwood – 176
(Combined total of Nottingham policing areas – 581)
Northern Ireland (PSNI)
TOTAL: 3,125
South Wales
2022 offences: 421
2023 offences: 352
2024 offences: 293
TOTAL: 1,066
Gender split: 79% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 27% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 40.
Investigations leading to a charge: 8.72%
No suspect identified: 64% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Cardiff – 285
Swansea – 225
Rhondda Cynon Taf – 178
Bridgend – 116
Neath Port Talbot – 114
South Yorkshire
2022 offences: 1,211
2023 offences: 1,036
2024 offences: 984
TOTAL: 3,231
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 760
Victims injured: 28
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.03%
No suspect identified: 80% of investigations.
Worst areas for arson attacks:
Sheffield – 1,131
Doncaster – 818
Barnsley – 707
Rotherham – 567
Worst five wards for arson attacks:
Darnall, Sheffield – 99
Gleadless Valley, Sheffield – 93
Dearne North, Barnsley – 87
Burngreave, Sheffield – 86
Manor Castle, Sheffield – 85
Staffordshire
2022 offences: 512
2023 offences: 499
2024 offences: 467
TOTAL: 1,478
Cases of ‘arson endangering life’: 412
Gender split: 79% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 12% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 21.
Investigations leading to arrest: 17%
Investigations leading to a charge: 6.22%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Etruria & Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent – 67
Bentilee & Ubberley, Stoke-on-Trent – 51
Hanley Park & Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent – 41
Abbey Hulton & Townsend, Stoke-on-Trent – 39
Burslem Central – 38
Suffolk
2022 offences: 304
2023 offences: 255
2024 offences: 225
TOTAL: 784
Surrey
2022 offences: 312
2023 offences: 301
2024 offences: 246
TOTAL: 859
Gender split: 68% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 25% of offenders were under the age of 18.
Repeat offenders: 33.
Investigations leading to arrest: 11%
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.38%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Spelthorne – 126
Guildford – 107
Reigate & Banstead – 103
Woking – 99
Tandridge – 87
Sussex
2022 offences: 864
2023 offences: 732
2024 offences: 631
TOTAL: 2,227
Gender split: 77% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 28% of offenders were aged 18 or under. Four were under the age of criminal responsibility (10 years old).
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.68%
No suspect identified: 79% of investigations.
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Brighton – 339
Hastings – 248
Arun – 209
Eastbourne – 182
Mid-Sussex – 178
Thames Valley
Feb 2022-Jan 2023 offences: 1,155
Feb 2023-Jan 2024 offences: 785
Feb 2024-Jan 2025 offences: 722
TOTAL: 2,662
Investigations leading to a ‘positive outcome’*: 5.71%
*A ‘positive outcome’ can refer to a charge, summons, caution or Community Resolution.
Warwickshire
2022 offences: 211
2023 offences: 163
2024 offences: 148
TOTAL: 522
Gender split: 84% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 43% of offenders were aged 18 or under. Five offenders were under 10 years old.
Investigations leading to a charge: 6.13%
No suspect identified: 57% of investigations.
West Midlands
2022 offences: 1,567
2023 offences: 1,336
2024 offences: 1,186
TOTAL: 4,089
Gender split: 78% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 33% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 103.
Investigations leading to arrest: 14%
Investigations leading to a charge: 3.42%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Sparkbrook, Birmingham – 69
Washwood Heath, Birmingham – 65
Lozells & East Handsworth, Birmingham – 64
Bilston East, Wolverhampton – 63
Birchills Leamore, Walsall – 63
West Yorkshire
2022 offences: 1,406
2023 offences: 1,434
2024 offences: 1,089
TOTAL: 3,929
Gender split: 84% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 27% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 26.
Investigations leading to arrest: 14%
Investigations leading to a charge: 4.2%
No suspect identified: 74% of investigations.
West Yorkshire arson attacks by district:
Leeds – 1,407
Bradford – 1,169
Kirklees – 566
Wakefield – 552
Calderdale – 237
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Leeds East – 373
Leeds West – 369
Bradford East – 368
Leeds South – 306
Wakefield East – 262
Wiltshire
2022 offences: 145
2023 offences: 113
2024 offences: 123
TOTAL: 381
Gender split: 78% of identified offenders were male.
Underage offenders: 58% of offenders were aged 18 or under.
Repeat offenders: 30.
Investigations leading to arrest: 27%
Investigations leading to a charge: 10.5%
Worst five areas for arson attacks:
Warminster Town – 20
Melksham Town – 14
Trowbridge Central – 11
Westbury Town – 9
Devizes Town & Marlborough Town – 8
