Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

more likely they are to become a frequent fire setter. 149 Furthermore, antisocial
147, 150
behaviour and alcohol abuse had more often relation with multiple fire settings.
The link between maltreatment and anger disgorging with fire has been
demonstrated. Fire setting seems to originate from difficulties in child’s emotions and
behaviour. 151 Retrospective analyses of arsonists demonstrate that their intellectual
disabilities (IQ lower than 85) 152 are more common than in general population;
personality disorders and revenge serve often as reasons for fire setting. 153 Feelings
of tension and excitement were more common in fire recidivism group. 145 Challenges
in psychiatric and psychological research, such as the amount of population and
classification of the surveys, are the contributors for not being able to find “a general
145, 154
arsonist”.
A revealing article about pyro-terrorism and its potential to become a tactic of choice
for terrorists has been published. Terrorist organizations are creative and try to
balance the risk between gained attention and the costs of action. Thus low-tech
methods have been applied when the target is highly vulnerable, meaning mainly the
employment of arson. The article points out recent cases from Israel, Spain, Estonia
and Greece. Furthermore, it reveals implications for Northern America. 155
8. International co-operation
8.1 Working groups and conferences
International working groups aim to share knowledge, share experiences, collect
information, develop methods and give advice to working group members. The
European Network of Forensic Science (ENFSI) is recognized as an expert group in
the field of forensic sciences. One of them is the Fire and Explosion Investigation
Working group (FEIWG). The sphere of activities of the working group is field
investigation, technical investigation and chemical analyses of fire debris samples.
FEIWG strives to ensure the quality of development of fire and explosion
investigation. There are three sub-committees: Training and Education, Accelerants
and Explosion. The Working Group published a Practical Guide for First Responders
to Fire Scene in March 2008. It has been translated into French, German,
Portuguese and Spanish and will be translated into Swedish, Danish, Italian and
Greek in 2010. FEIWG has organised two New Science Seminars in Switzerland.
The first one in 2008 discussed Scene Investigation and in 2010 the topic was fire
debris analysis. 156
In the USA, the Technical Working Group of Fire and Explosion (TWGFEX) maintains
co-operation among personnel in the Forensic laboratory, public safety, private
investigation, and legal communities. The Working Group develops protocols and/or
guides for collection and analysis of fire and explosion debris, training and quality
assurance and introduces new techniques in the field of forensic fire and explosion
investigation and laboratory analyses. TWGFE has three active scene committees:
Education/Training, Fire Modeling Database and Scene Protocol Committee, and six
laboratory committees: Explosives Education and Training, Explosives Database,
Explosives Standard Protocols, Fire Education and Training, Ignitable Liquids
Database and Fire Standard Protocols. TWGFEX has published a Training Outline
for First Responders at Fire Scenes (October 2008) and Recommended Guidelines
439