Authorities crack down on reckless fires

CRIME Stoppers Victoria (CSV) is urging residents and visitors in the Geelong region to confidentially report reckless and deliberate fire behaviour before it puts lives in danger.

The organisation has joined forces with Geelong Police, CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria to remind Victorians of the potentially disastrous consequences of recklessly caused bush and grass fires as the weather heats up.

The call comes as part of a three-month collaborative campaign between CSV and Geelong Police to drive down crime across the area and create a safer community.

The new initiative will see CSV conduct a number of public call-outs in a bid to drive community information to the confidential crime-reporting service, helping to locate wanted people and solve crime.

CSV general manager Cathy Rhodes urged the community to support the campaign by reporting information confidentially.

“This campaign demonstrates CSV’s commitment to help solve crime and create a safer Victoria,” she said.

“Over the next three months, CSV will name a number of wanted people and seek to identify a number of alleged offenders police want to speak to in relation to crime committed in Geelong and the surrounding area.

“The community will be urged to review the images we release and report what they know confidentially to Crime Stoppers in a bid to help solve crime in the area.

“Recklessly causing a bushfire or grassfire is a crime with disastrous consequences – costing property, livelihoods and lives.”

Reckless behaviour can include disobeying restrictions relating to Total Fire Ban or Fire Danger Periods, leaving campfires unattended, burning off without a permit, or using hot tools or machinery that emit flames or sparks on Total Fire Ban days.

Acting Superintendent Geoff Colsell said the collaborative campaign formed part of Geelong Police’s overall efforts to ensure the community was safe and felt safe at all times.

“Starting a bushfire or grassfire is a crime and we will pursue anyone putting our community at risk through reckless or deliberate actions.”

He said later campaigns would include outstanding offenders wanted on arrest warrants, and unsolved crimes such as robbery and assault.

CFA assistant chief officer for the south west region Rohan Luke said the organisation took a zero tolerance approach to any unauthorised fires or fires resulting from negligent behaviour subject to police investigation.