Arson squad alert for teen boys
Arson squad detectives charged seven juveniles - all boys aged 10 to 17 - with deliberately lighting bushfires in the first 10 days of this summer.
The alarming number of early offences prompted a plea from Police Minister Liza Harvey yesterday for parents and guardians to confront their children about the catastrophic consequences a bushfire can have on lives and property.
She said if parents noticed their child was fascinated with fire they should immediately refer them to the government-run Juvenile and Family Fire Awareness program.
"Very serious penalties apply to people who light bushfires," Mrs Harvey said. "We know that it damages property but it also causes serious injury and death."
More than 90 per cent of the 29 offenders charged during last season's Strike Force Vulcan - an annual crackdown on bushfire arsonists - were boys aged 10 to 17.
Arson squad Det-Sen. Sgt Craig White said the seven charges in the campaign this year stemmed from four bushfires across Perth.
It was the most prolific start to summer in the strike force's four-year history.
"Unfortunately, all of those arrested are boys in the 10 to 17 age group and of the people we dealt with last year the majority are that age," Det-Sen. Sgt White said.
"That's why we're standing here today, to let people know it could be your children involved in this.
"Socioeconomic background has nothing to do with it. They're not confined to the lower (socioeconomic) areas or the upper areas. It's across the board."
Police said the number of deliberately lit bushfires fell almost 400 last season to 1245 but more people were caught in the act.
The squad will monitor 28 priority and prolific arson offenders this season, down from 40 last year.
Mrs Harvey said the Government was drafting legislation for arsonists to be subject to GPS tracking. The laws have been flagged in recent years and are often compared with sex offender monitoring laws.
Police will continue to use covert cameras in arson hotspots to catch offenders with Strike Force Vulcan running until March 31.
