FIREBUGS BEWARE

“Victoria Police adopts a zero-tolerance to any behaviour, whether deliberate or reckless, which may cause a fire in the community.” ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DEB ABBOTT

DOZENS of Geelong firebugs are being kept under police surveillance, the region’s top police officer has said.

Victoria Police is launching Operation Firesetter, targeting potential arsonists and high risk locations in an effort to prevent intentionally or recklessly lit fires.

Geelong Inspector Gary Bruce said “quite a few” persons of interest were being monitored in the Geelong region — including the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula and Colac.

“We run intelligence tools over our data to identify people,” Insp Bruce said. “The higher the risk the more intense the monitoring is.

“It is a combination of persons of interest who have previous history in lighting fires, but also we target areas that have had increased risk of fire danger.”

He previously told the Geelong Advertiser the majority of offenders being monitored were male, ageing all the way from juveniles to the elderly.

Over the past decade there has been an average of 167 arson offences recorded each year in Greater Geelong — an average of at least three deliberate fires each week for 10 years — Crime Statistics Agency figures show.

In the year to September 2017 there were 152 arson offences in the region.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Deb Abbott said police would not tolerate any dangerous fire behaviour during the summer period.

“Bushfire arson can result in a huge cost to the community through loss of life, destruction of property and the decimation of the environment,” Ms Abbott said.

“It’s important that everyone remains mindful of their activities during fire danger periods.

“Victoria Police adopts a zero-tolerance to any behaviour, whether deliberate or reckless, which may cause a fire in the community.”

Anyone found to have recklessly or intentionally caused a bushfire faces a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, while lighting a fire on a total fire ban day can attract a fine of about $37,000 or up to two years in jail.

Ms Abbott said the community’s assistance in keeping an eye out for dangerous fire behaviour during the hotter months was an invaluable tool.

“The information provided by members of the public is a contemporary and real-time source of intelligence that police use on a daily basis,” she said. “If you see something you think looks suspicious, please say something.

“Anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour as it is occurring needs to call triple-0.”