Churches are being urged to take steps to prevent arson and loss of heritage after a church in Sheffield was seriously damaged in an attack.
Claims data from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical shows over 150 churches across the UK have suffered arson attacks over the past five years, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to historic buildings. In the latest incident, Pitsmoor Christ Church was the victim of a fire on 4 July, which South Yorkshire Police are investigating as arson. While the number of attacks dropped during the pandemic, churches are b to take urgent action over the summer months when arson attacks more frequently occur.
The data revealed that almost every county has seen churches targeted by arsonists, with London, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Essex, and Kent the worst affected. Given that arson is often perpetrated by an individual and with no clear trends, this makes proactive action even more important. While thankfully a rare occurrence, the impact of arson on churches and the wider community can be substantial as recent significant fires have shown.
In 2017, the Grade II listed Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton, Greater Manchester was devastated by an arson attack.ore recently, Grade I listed All Saints Church in Mackworth, Derbyshire was gutted by fire in December 2020. Restoration projects are underway to restore both buildings.
To help manage the risk of an arson attack and help to protect the country’s cherished historic churches, Ecclesiastical’s risk experts have issued advice to churches. These include:
- Keep churches secure: At night, lock church doors, windows, and any external gates. Installing security lights and keeping the exterior well-lit will deter intruders. Also, consider installing fire alarms, intruder alarms, and CCTV that provides continual monitoring to an alarm-receiving centre.
- Report suspicious activity and make the church look busy: Use the building as much as possible for church and community activities.
- Practice good housekeeping: Keep internal doors shut and locked when not in use, as this can slow the spread of fire. Safely store items that could start fires (e.g. portable heaters) and move bins away from the outside of the building. Take care when building or maintenance projects are underway, ensuring materials and waste are stored safely, securely, and well away from the building.
- Carry out regular external inspections of church buildings and grounds: Make regular checks to the building and report damage to the police and insurers as soon as possible. Cut back vegetation on a regular basis.
- Repair damage to the church immediately: A damaged building is at risk of further attacks, including arson. Ensure any damage is repaired and graffiti removed quickly.
- Check fire extinguishers: Check there are enough fire extinguishers, including some that are water (hydro-spray) and carbon dioxide types.
- Be prepared for fire: Keep up-to-date fire risk assessments for the premises. Consider ways in which deliberate fires could be started and how they can be prevented, or the risk reduced.
Jo Whyman, Risk Management Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Churches are legally required to carry out a fire risk assessment and in doing so they’ll be able to understand the risk of fire – including the risk of an arson attack. The good news is, many of the recommended safeguards don’t require capital investment but simple precautionary steps which could make all the difference.”
A full list of Ecclesiastical’s arson prevention advice can be found at the company’s website, www.ecclesiastical.com.