Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service Press Release
Cutting arsons across the county
The number of arsons recorded in Gloucestershire has dropped by more than 200 incidents since last year..
The Gloucestershire Arson Task Force saw the number of incidents fall from 1038 in 2007/08 to 814 in 2008/09.
Since 2001/02 there has been an overall 41% drop in arsons in the county.
The majority of these fires have been targeted at vehicles or rubbish, which account for more than 70% of arson call outs in 2008/09.
In Gloucestershire the cost of malicious vehicle fires to the community is around £2.3 million per year.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, part of Gloucestershire County Council’s Community Safety directorate, has been working hard to educate people about the dangers of setting fires.
Working with the other partners in the Gloucestershire Arson Task Force, the fire and rescue service has been issuing targeted arson prevention advice to householders, businesses, schools and people living in rural areas.
Acting Chief Fire Officer, Chris Griffin said: “While this is excellent news, we are never complacent where arson is concerned.
“Working with our partners in the Arson Task Force, we will remain vigilant and continue focussing our efforts on education and prevention.
“People can help themselves by taking steps to protect their property - simple things like not piling up your rubbish can help.
“If you car is coming to the end of its life, then please don’t abandon it, dispose of it responsibly as these vehicles are a prime target for arsonists.
“If people work with us, then together we can combat arson and make our county even safer and nicer to live, work and visit.”
For more information, visit the Arson Taskforce pages on this website.
Month |
2001/02 |
02/03 |
03/04 |
04/05 |
05/06 |
06/07 |
07/08 |
08/09 |
April |
97 |
161 |
208 |
153 |
127 |
153 |
166 |
60 |
May |
140 |
151 |
170 |
158 |
117 |
116 |
106 |
71 |
June |
131 |
145 |
180 |
177 |
127 |
125 |
96 |
78 |
July |
108 |
150 |
170 |
196 |
157 |
142 |
66 |
75 |
August |
137 |
122 |
187 |
93 |
151 |
168 |
111 |
69 |
September |
151 |
181 |
266 |
108 |
169 |
86 |
69 |
67 |
October |
92 |
152 |
269 |
113 |
106 |
81 |
67 |
67 |
November |
141 |
67 |
114 |
129 |
92 |
87 |
105 |
68 |
December |
97 |
84 |
81 |
98 |
82 |
71 |
76 |
48 |
January |
78 |
69 |
107 |
85 |
88 |
65 |
53 |
59 |
February |
77 |
110 |
126 |
101 |
85 |
64 |
56 |
57 |
March |
127 |
164 |
126 |
114 |
108 |
104 |
67 |
95 |
Grand Total |
1376 |
1556 |
2004 |
1525 |
1409 |
1262 |
1038 |
814 |
Cheltenham |
249 |
Forest of Dean |
64 |
Gloucester |
219 |
Stroud |
129 |
Tewkesbury |
88 |
Cotswold |
65 |
Total 2008/09 |
814 |
Notes to Editors
The Gloucestershire Arson Task Force is a partnership of the Fire & Rescue Service as well as other departments in Gloucestershire County Council, Police, the six district councils, the Probation Service and the Youth Offenders Service.
Further tables, detailing types of arson (vehicle, dwelling, rubbish etc) and their annual recorded figures are available on request.
CONTACT:
Issued by Lisa Bonnell, Gloucestershire County Council's Media Team
Tel:
01452 425226
4th June 2009
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