Helping end arson attacks (From Barry And District News)

Helping end arson attacks

A DINAS Powys firm is helping to drastically reduce arson attacks, by stopping youngsters re-offending.

Unfortunately for the Vale - at least for the time being - the work is being done in Derbyshire, not locally.

Praise has been given in a Government report to The Cognitive Centre Foundation, on Cardiff Road, Dinas Powys, for their work educating young people about the dangers of fire.

It is the result of a partnership with the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Centre.

Managing director of CCF Peter Davies said: "When we started the business ten years ago, there was a dire need to find a way to reduce youth offending.

"I had just spent 24 years in the probation service and have used my experiences in that line of work to construct the offender programmes."

The Firesafe programme has led to a 50 percent reduction in fires and hoax calls in the Derbyshire area.

The report highlighted the dangers of fire-setting. In the past decade over 700 children have died and over 24,000 injured as a result of fires.

As a company, CCF have expanded steadily since they were formed ten years ago, and now have links with Australia and Switzerland as well as other countries.

In the report other counties were advised to take a leaf out of Derbyshire's book, and introduce the Firesafe scheme or similar ones to help their arson rate.