Using the vulnerable localities index to identify priority areas for targeting fire safety services

The Vulnerable Localities Index (VLI) is a popular analytical method used by police agencies in England and Wales to identify residential neighbourhoods that should be prioritised for attention. The VLI uses data on crime, deprivation and socio-demography to form a single composite index value for small geographic areas, which when mapped can assist in determining where to target neighbourhood policing and crime prevention initiatives. Its use has also helped to prompt other public sector partners such as local municipal government agencies to recognise the collaborative role that they could play with the police in helping to address mutual issues of public safety. Fire safety agencies have also expressed interest in the VLI, but to date this has mainly involved offering a supporting role to the police and local community safety partnerships on crime specific matters of public safety, with a focus on fire safety often on the periphery. In part this is due to limited analysis into whether the priority areas identified by the VLI are also areas of key concern to fire services. This research explores this relationship, identifying that the priority neighbourhoods of interest to the police are also areas where there are significantly higher than expected levels of deliberate fires and malicious false alarm calls to the fire service. These findings suggest that in the spirit of partnership working, potential opportunities exist in achieving mutually beneficial gains in improving public safety through the collaboration of fire, police and other local public service delivery.