[29 October 2007]

Arson Reduction Seminar

Nearly three quarters of all fires in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove are started deliberately. The work of the Arson Reduction Team and action by firefighters on the ground, in partnership with Sussex Police and other agencies, including local authorities and community representatives, has led to a dramatic reduction in arson attacks over the past three years. There have been many initiatives across the County to prevent deliberate fire setting, including the Junior Firesetters Scheme where operational firefighters challenge and discuss firesetting with vulnerable young people.

To maintain this momentum the Arson Reduction Team has published a major strategy document at a series of borough-based seminars across the County. Most of the delegates at these seminars have suffered from deliberate fire setting in the past, or are considered to be in high-risk groups such as schools and places of worship. In Sussex schools there are more than 80 arson attacks every year. The purpose of the seminars is to introduce the strategy to existing and potential partners to gain their co-operation to reduce this problem for the benefit of all.

Overall feedback from delegates at the first two conferences at Brighton and Hove and Hastings and Rother has been very positive. The final conference is on the 1st November at Uckfield Civic Centre for representatives from Eastbourne, Wealden and Lewes.