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Inspectors have powers to enter premises for the purposes of undertaking routine fire safety inspections. They can also close (prohibit) or restrict the use of unsafe buildings, issue other legal notices which enforce compliance with current fire safety legislation. Failure to comply with a notice is
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As public law enforcement officers, fire inspectors are duty bound, by law, to enforce fire safety legislation in the name of the Chief Fire
Officer and the Chair of the Fire Rescue Authority of the Fire & Rescue Authority they are employed by, for the protection of members of the general public.
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Some Fire & Rescue
Services employ inspectors who have not had firefighting experience, but instead have experience in Fire Safety related fields in employment outside of the Fire Service. For example, in the Western Australian fire authorities' Built Environment Branch (AKA Fire Safety Branch),
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2. Although in law a "fire inspector" is a person appointed directly by the secretary of state to enforce fire safety standards in Crown premises and is as such a person appointed as an 'enforcing authority' in their own right, the term fire inspector refers more widely to any inspector who enforces
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Fire safety inspectors undertake criminal investigations. They do not however investigate how a fire may have started. Whilst the cause of a fire may be pivotal to any criminal proceedings taken by
Inspectors the actual job of establishing the cause of the fire is often very technical and requires
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Most routine inspections result in minor failings being found and this is normally dealt with by a report which asks for the deficiencies to addressed within a certain timescale. More serious cases however may warrant that immediate action is taken to reduce the risk to building occupants. In some
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Fire inspectors, like any other major enforcing officers from other enforcing authorities, have the same powers of authority of that of a police constable except that they cannot arrest persons. They can not, except in the event of fire or emergency, make forceable entry, unless first obtaining a
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1. "Inspector" is a person appointed by one of the first four authorities listed above, and are appointed to enable that authority (as an entity) to discharge its duties under the order. Therefore, any 'notice' issued by an inspector on a premises, is done so in the name of that authority.
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Inspectors also have powers investigate the commission of an offence, and where a person or organisation is suspected of committing an offence which has specifically put persons at imminent risk of injury or death those persons or organisations are usually prosecuted.
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none of their Fire Safety
Officers have transferred from that agency's operational fire fighter ranks. They are career specialist operatives with extensive fire technology skills and qualifications.
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a construction site or building under reconstruction as a whole (note; if the premises is partly occupied, the enforcing authority will default to another applicable enforcing authority).
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A fire and rescue authority. They enforce all premises within their area, with the exception of any premises that fall within the scope of the following enforcing authorities.
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In turn the Chief Fire
Officer discharges power of authority by order of a Secretary of State (In England and Wales) or their equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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All suspects are cautioned and invited to attend a "PACE Interview". A PACE interview is a taped interview, under the provisions of Code E issued under the
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The fire service maintained by the
Secretary of Defence (the MOD Fire Service) for all armed forces premises except Royal Navy ships as mentioned above.
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Different organisations enforce fire safety legislation depending on the nature of the premises. They are defined as "Enforcing
Authorities", and are:
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A fire investigator however has no powers to enforce legislation, so their role is to provide evidence for Fire
Inspectors to take forward.
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Most fire safety inspectors are uniformed officers and are professional firefighters who have transferred from front line service into the
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cases the buildings may be closed or the use of the building restricted because of a deemed risk to public and building occupant's safety.
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Fire authorities' powers are derived from several pieces of legislation. Fire authorities are also 'approved inspectors' under the
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a Royal Navy ship under repair, construction, or conversion by any person other than the master or crew of that ship.
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The
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 & Fire & Rescue Services Act 2004 (England & Wales)
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There are three distinct sets of legislation covering all four countries within the United
Kingdom. They are:
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and asked questions pertinent to the investigation. Transcripts of the interview can then be used in court.
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the enforcing authority for the following premises:
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The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (Scotland)
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Note: There is a distinct difference between an "inspector" and a "fire inspector".
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responsible for the enforcement fire safety legislation in the United Kingdom.
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of the Fire & Rescue Service in which they work. Most Inspectors are of
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A fire inspector, for any premises which are owned or occupied by the Crown.
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The Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006 (Northern Ireland)
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Fire and rescue service organisation in the United Kingdom
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Fire authorities also receive official authority from the
279:Law enforcement occupations in the United Kingdom
259:"The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005"
229:Confusion over the role with fire investigators
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181:A local authority for sports stadia/stands
98:Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
163:premises licensed under section 1 of the
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88:The primary pieces of legislation are:
83:Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
85:as "Inspectors of Health and Safety".
137:Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
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93:Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
165:Nuclear Installations Act 1965
33:fire safety inspecting officer
1:
167:(except for Crown premises)
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234:the expert knowledge of a
196:fire safety legislation.
41:law enforcement officer
16:Law enforcement officer
211:Fire Safety Department
147:Enforcing authorities
139:, where suspects are
25:fire safety inspector
141:placed under caution
37:fire safety officer
109:Fireworks Act 2003
105:Licensing Act 2003
236:fire investigator
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122:criminal offence
120:an ordinarily a
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39:) is a public
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29:fire officer
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115:Enforcement
273:Categories
245:References
205:Background
77:Background
54:warrant.
107:and the
19:In the
72:Powers
200:Role
35:or
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31:,
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