Arson attacks in London have increased by almost a third in two years – with experts linking the rise to a spike in social unrest.
This data comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke of how shaken his family were following an alleged fire bomb attack in May on his former home in Kentish Town, where his sister-in-law now lives.
Three men are due to stand trial next year.
Arson offences across the city have increased by 28 per cent, from 1,894 incidents reported in 2022 to 2,430 recorded in 2024, according to data published by the London Assembly.
A quarter of deliberate fires in London involve young people aged 17 and under, according to London Fire Brigade chiefs.
At City Hall last month, Stephen Mackenzie, an independent fire, security, and resilience consultant, said: “Arson is the straight go-to for social unrest.
“Arson is an accessible modus operandi, especially in countries where it is so hard to get firearms or explosives such as the UK, it is the next default.”
He called for more sophisticated prevention measures to be put in place across the city to reduce the threat of arson, such as risk assessments focusing on life safety, property and environmental protection.
Westminster, Sutton and Haringey have had the largest increase in arson attacks since 2022, by 106, 100 and 80 per cent respectively.
Only four boroughs – Camden, Barnet, Newham and Tower Hamlets - saw a decrease in arson attacks.
This data emerged on Tuesday in a letter to Sir Sadiq Khan, from Zack Polanski, chair of the London Assembly fire committee, calling on the London mayor to take action to mitigate the risk of arson in light of the rise in attacks.
In the letter, Mr Polanski said the increase “has consequences not only for property and infrastructure, but also for Londoners’ sense of safety and wellbeing”.
He added: “In the face of new and emerging risks, including the threat posed by hostile states, it is vital that the mayor and the GLA [Greater London Authority] play their part in tackling the dangers posed to Londoners by arson.”
Mr Polanski urged Sir Sadiq, the London Fire Brigade, London boroughs and the Met police to create an arson task group to tackle the rise in arson across the city in localised and specific ways.
He called for “heat maps” to be made for each borough to map hot spots for arson offences to aid in risk prevention.
Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, said: “It is not lost on us that every arson can be exceptionally impactful.
“It is one of those life-changing events if it does affect your home, your property, your community.”
The London Fire Brigade has a firesetters intervention scheme which works to prevent young people from instigating arson attacks.
The scheme has had 4,000 referrals since it was established in 2001 and 90 per cent of individuals who have gone through the scheme have not been involved in repeat arson attacks.
The London Fire Brigade appointed a new Fire Commissioner, Jonathan Smith, on Tuesday.
