Police identify teenage girls responsible for £8,500 blaze

Police are to caution four teenage girls after they admitted causing a fire that subsequently caused £8500 worth of damage to a new community play area. During the early hours of Sunday 15th July 2012, police were made aware that the recently installed wood play equipment on Central drive, Ulverston had been damaged by a fire. Following investigation by Cumbria Fire and Rescue it was established that the fire had been started deliberately and had caused damage to the play equipment, installed by South Lakeland District Council, at an estimated cost of £8500.

An investigation was launched by Ulverston Police and as a result, four teenage girls have now been identified as being responsible. The girls, two aged 12 and two aged 13 - all from the local area – admitted recklessly causing the damage after failing to call the Fire and Rescue Service when a fire they lit to keep warm got out of control.

Sgt Rupert Johnston of Ulverston police said: “I wish to thank the many members of the public who contacted us in relation to this incident and helped us to detect the crime. It has taken two months to get to the bottom of this and I’m pleased to say that the people responsible have been identified.

“The girls have been spoken to, along with their parents, and they have admitted lighting a fire that unfortunately got out of control and caused significant damage. They have been interviewed and received final warnings which will remain on their records into their adult lives. This means that if they commit another offence, they will be taken straight to court.

“The four girls and their parents will now have to go to the youth offending service who will address their offending behaviour.”