Buses Used to Drive Home Message to Deliberate Firestarters

An advertising campaign to ‘drive home’ messages about the consequences of deliberate fire starting has been launched in Wrexham.

Across Wrexham posters stating ‘Help us prevent crime’ will be advertised on the rear of buses.

The campaign is one of several strategies being used to try and stamp out deliberate fire starting in the Wrexham area. Other methods include social media advertising and visits to local schools for talks.

Kevin Jones, Arson Reduction Manager, said: “We’re hoping that this highly visual campaign will keep the real consequences of deliberate fire starting in the forefront of people’s minds.

“We are running a wide range of initiatives to drive home the consequences of deliberate fire setting including the bus backs, leaflet drops, community boards, Facebook advertising, radio advertising, face to face communication through school visits and seasonally funded diversionary activities.

“It’s frustrating and infuriating for us and colleagues from North Wales Police who see the aftermath of these crimes on the lives of everyday people within the Wrexham community. These fires can put the lives of our firefighters at risk whist tying up resources which could be needed elsewhere, and create fear and untrust within the community.

“We’re working closely with North Wales Police on a local level to appeal to local people to report these fire starters, who seem determined to destroy their community from within. Without information from them, it will be much harder to stamp out this worrying trend.”