Repetitive deliberate fires: Development and validation of a methodology to detect series
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_313677EAD970
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Repetitive deliberate fires: Development and validation of a methodology to detect series
Journal
Forensic Science International
ISSN
0379-0738
Publication state
Published
Issued date
08/2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
277
Pages
148-160
Language
english
Abstract
The detection of repetitive deliberate fire events is challenging and still often ineffective due to a case-by-case approach. A previous study provided a critical review of the situation and analysis of the main challenges. This study suggested that the intelligence process, integrating forensic data, could be a valid framework to provide a follow-up and systematic analysis provided it is adapted to the specificities of repetitive deliberate fires. In this current manuscript, a specific methodology to detect deliberate fires series, i.e. set by the same perpetrators, is presented and validated. It is based on case profiles relying on specific elements previously identified. The method was validated using a dataset of approximately 8000 deliberate fire events collected over 12 years in a Swiss state. Twenty possible series were detected, including 6 of 9 known series. These results are very promising and lead the way to a systematic implementation of this methodology in an intelligence framework, whilst demonstrating the need and benefit of increasing the collection of forensic specific information to strengthen the value of links between cases.
Keywords
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
10/11/2017 15:00
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:16