The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Spate of fires leads to call for parents to watch children
Police in Fife have asked parents to keep a closer eye on their children amid an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour.
The appeal comes after a series of deliberate fires were started in Fife and Dundee, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland spending valuable time and resources dealing with them.
On Wednesday, gorse bushes were set alight in North Queensferry.
Fife Police PC Richard Duncan, of Dalgety Bay Police Station, said: “We were made aware of fires started in the St Margaret’s Marsh area near North Queensferry around 6.45pm on Wednesday 7 April.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire. “Nobody was injured. “All forms of anti-social behaviour have a disruptive effect on local communities, and deliberately setting fires is particularly reckless.
“It is worth stressing that the vast majority of young people do not come to the attention of police.
“A small minority do sometimes become involved in anti-social behaviour and police will take appropriate action where incidents are reported and offenders identified.
“I would also urge parents and guardians to make sure that they know where their children are, who they are associating with and what they are doing.
“Anyone who has concerns about anti-social behaviour in their area is encouraged to contact police by calling 101 as promptly as possible.”
Last month two teenagers, aged 13 and 14, were charged with wilful fireraising after rugby club Rosyth Shark’s clubhouse was gutted in an early morning blaze.
A week later, park furniture was destroyed after being deliberately set alight in the Back Braes area of Leslie.
Residents said at the time it was the latest in a string of similar incidents in the area in recent months.
The call from PC Duncan follows a similar plea from Sergeant Karen Judge of Downfield Police Office in Dundee last month.
She asked parents to report their children if they come home in the evenings smelling of smoke or accelerant.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called out to attend six deliberate fires across the city on Sunday February 28 and Monday March 1.
On the evening of February 28, four fires were set in just an hour and a half, including on Derwent Avenue, Gleneagles Avenue, Ashmore Street and in woodland around Caird Park.
There were then two further deliberate fires the following Monday night, in Turnberry Avenue and Pitkerro Road.
Despite Police Scotland sending out a warning on the “reckless and incredibly dangerous” impact of deliberately setting fires, no arrests have been made and the force says it cannot yet say whether or not the fires were set by the same individual or group.
Sergeant Judge said: “I would ask all parents in the area to ensure you know where your children are in the evening, that they are complying with Covid19 regulations about being outwith the home, and if they are coming home smelling of smoke or accelerant than you should be notifying us.”