Telford car arsons: More than half of car fires in borough are crimes, figures show
More than half of vehicle fires in Telford & Wrekin in the last 12 months were classed as arson attacks new figures have revealed.
In light of a spate of attacks in recent months in the Telford area figures have shown that out of a total of 76 fires, 59 per cent were classed as arson attacks.
Out of the 45 fires classed as arson attacks, 87 per cent were in relation to cars, with one arson attack on a heavy goods vehicle, three on motorcycles and two on vans.
It spread to two other vehicles on the drive way with crews from Wellington being sent to deal with the blaze.
The last year has seen arson attacks become a major problem in Telford.
Car fires have broken out in Vallens Hadley, Chockleys Meadow in Leegomery and a host of other areas all within the last two months.
Only last month a woman and her family were woken in the night after two cars were set alight on their street.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, expressed how frightened the family were, saying: "The flames were so high. I didn't expect it and the cars were parked so close to the house. That could have caught fire.
"It's just senseless. I said to the policeman 'how are we going to sleep at night?'"
Then in August, a 26-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy from Telford were arrested on suspicion of 26 arsons across a five year period in the Hadley and Leegomery areas.
Derek Taylor, fire crime officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said there has been a rise and the force is working with the police to eradicate the problem.
However he believes heavy convictions to offenders will sound a warning to people not to commit these crimes.
He said: "We are liaising with the police to rid the streets of the problem of arson attacks.
"In July 46 out of the 47 fires, not just vehicle fires, were started deliberately and they included bin fires, grass fires and other incidents.
"We want to reduce the amount of arsons and there are number of ways to do it through education, leaflet dropping and putting out posters, or even appeals in the press.
"Convictions can carry life sentences and they can sound as a warning to other people not to commit arson attacks.
"Here in Shropshire in the last couple of years were have seen a number of lengthy sentences for attacks and they can service as a warning to others."
Anyone who has information about arson attacks in Telford should call West Mercia Police on the non-emergency 101 number.
