Arson

Where property is destroyed or damaged by fire, arson is committed under Section 1(3) of Criminal Damage Act 1971.

Section 1(2) of the Criminal Damage Act makes it an offence to destroy or damage property intending thereby to endanger the life of another, or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered.

• If the damage is committed by fire, the offence is charged as arson with intent or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.
• A defendant may be guilty, either if he intended to endanger life by damage, or was reckless that life would be endangered by the damage.

For offences involving “simple arson” the property of another must be damaged.

For the aggravated offence in Section 1(2), it can be any property, including the defendant’s own.

If you are facing an allegation of arson, then it is essential that you take immediate legal advice from one of our expert Solicitors at SCM Law.