Empty premises at greater risk of arson and property crime, warns NSI

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) warns to protect empty premises

The number of unoccupied premises has increased, yet many owners are leaving themselves open to the risk of arson, criminal damage and even prosecution, according to the National Security Inspectorate (NSI). As the recession bites and the number of empty buildings inevitably increases, so does the liability of those responsible for these premises if effective measures are not taken to keep them safe and secure.

Should an injury or fatality occur in an unused building, those responsible are liable to investigation and even prosecution by regulators or their local authority. Inadequate safeguarding of empty premises also poses the risk of insurance claims being invalidated on the grounds of insufficient security or fire protection measures.

Research from the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, has revealed that four out of five councils have reported an increase in empty commercial properties in their town centres. Furthermore, research by Experian has suggested that the number of empty retail units could reach 135,000 by the end of this year.

Julian Stanton, NSI spokesman, comments: "There's no doubt that without taking adequate fire prevention and security measures, those responsible for an empty building are leaving themselves vulnerable to arson and burglary, as well as invalid insurance policies. Unoccupied premises require a robust risk assessment by an independently approved contractor who will be able to recommend and install the most appropriate fire prevention and security measures. Ensuring your contractor is approved by a recognised approvals body, such as NSI, is the best way to protect against a cowboy installer and avoiding costly mistakes."