Member Article

Reduction in fire crimes

The number of deliberate fires has been reduced by more than a third in the Tyne & Wear area and by nearly half in Northumberland over the past five years. In addition, hoax calls to the emergency services have been reduced by more than half in Tyne & Wear and by more than a third in Northumberland. Each hoax call costs the tax payer about £2,000, and every deliberate fire costs an average of £5,520.Closer working relationships between the fire and rescue services and the police are credited with the reduction in fire related crime. Northumbria Police chief constable, Mike Craik, said “Starting fires deliberately is foolish, dangerous and could be lethal. By working with our colleagues in the fire services of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland we are starting to make real inroads into curbing this malicious practice. We expect that the signing of this partnership agreement will bring about even further benefits.“Fire related deaths in the UK have fallen to 489 - the lowest total since 1959.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .