Wakefield Together’s Arson Task Force has smashed through targets for reducing fires involving property and cars – pulling in a £750,000 reward grant for the local community.  Deliberate and accidental fires in the district have reduced by 41% since 2002 to just 680 incidents.

“Arson is the single biggest cause of fire in the UK, resulting in two deaths and 50 injuries every week,” explained West Yorkshire’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig McIntosh. 

‘’The aim of creating multi agency arson task forces was to bring together organisations such as the fire service, Wakefield Council and the police to tackle fire setting at its roots by better prevention, education, detection and prosecution.  A reduction in arson across  Wakefield District has also been accompanied by a welcome drop in accidental fires.  That’s a fantastic achievement which improves the quality of life for many communities traditionally plagued by crime and anti social behaviour’’.

Cllr Olivia Rowley, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Cohesion stated ‘’ I am delighted that crime across Wakefield District continues to fall and the Partnership will continue to focus heavily on crime reduction throughout the District as part of its commitment to making communities feel safer.  The £750,000 performance grant will be spent on further improvements in community safety through the District’s local area agreement.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig McIntosh will be paying a public tribute to Wakefield’s the Arson Task Force at a reception to be held at Safety Central, West Yorkshire’s new state ­of ­the­ art education and training complex in Bramley on Friday, 13 November. 

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