North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to take action to address the significant increase in deliberate fires across Wales.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in the Assembly Chamber on Wednesday with the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Carl Sargeant AM.
He said:
“Responding to your 7 February Statement on Safer Communities, I referred to press reports the previous day of an 11 per cent increase in deliberate fires in Wales the previous year, which had diverted from other 999 calls and fire crews away from their other priorities.
“Ten days later, press coverage of Welsh Government figures reported an increase of almost a third in deliberately started grass fires in Wales last year, with some 2,604 grass fires started on purpose. When you replied to me on 7 February, you referred to the previous Minister having had a joint meeting with local authorities, fire authorities and the police, but, given these significant increases now on your watch, what action have you or will you be taking with the relevant authorities?”
The Cabinet Secretary agreed it is a concern and said he encourages authorities, or individuals who have any information about deliberate fires to help tackle the problem by ringing the police.
He added: “I do meet with the fire authorities on a regular basis. I met them only last week. I will discuss how critical this issue is with them, in regard to the grass fires specifically, as we move forward into Spring.”