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ENFSI Best Practice Manual

Definition

The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Fire and Explosions Investigation Working Group guidance document for fire and explosion investigation across European jurisdictions, with motive-classification provisions aligned with European legal traditions.

Related terms

Arson Motive Classification
The systematic categorisation of the reasons an arsonist sets a fire, most commonly using the FBI Crime Classification Manual six-category framework: vandalism,...
Children's Firesetting Interview (CFI)
A structured clinician-administered assessment instrument developed by David Kolko at the University of Pittsburgh to evaluate fire history, fire knowledge, curiosity about...
FBI Crime Classification Manual (CCM)
A reference manual published by the FBI Behavioral Science Unit classifying crimes including arson by motive and offender behaviour pattern; the standard...
Firesetting Risk Interview (FRI)
A companion parent-report instrument developed alongside the Kolko CFI that provides a structured parental account of the child's fire-setting behaviour, enabling cross-validation...
Geographic Profiling
A spatial analysis technique originally developed by Kim Rossmo that predicts the likely home or anchor point of a serial offender from...
Hero Arsonist
An excitement-motivated arsonist who is also a first responder (firefighter, emergency medical technician) who sets fires to create opportunities to demonstrate competence...
Organised vs Disorganised Fire-Setting
A FBI CCM behavioural axis: an organised fire-setter prepares in advance, uses purposeful ignition devices, and selects the ignition point deliberately; a...
Pyromania
A DSM-5 impulse-control disorder characterised by deliberate and purposeful fire-setting on multiple occasions, with tension or affective arousal before the act and...
Serial Arson
Typically defined as three or more separate fire-setting incidents at different locations and times by the same offender, with a cooling-off period...

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