Fire officers from Barking and Dagenham are working closely with Police Community Safety Officers (PCSO) in a bid to reduce arson in the borough.
The Brigade have set up a new team called the Police Arson Control Team (PACT) which will consist of dedicated PCSOs who will liaise with station managers and the arson task force practitioner on all issues regarding arson and anti social fire setting. This is the first team to be set up in London and the scheme will cover nine wards in the borough.
A training morning took place on Tuesday 25 November at Dagenham Fire Station to outline the roles and responsibilities of the team and the PCSOs talked to fire officers about fire safety within the borough. The Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) team also gave a talk about their work with young people within Barking and Dagenham. LIFE is an intensive five-day course offering young people the opportunity to learn firefighting skills alongside real firefighters.
Arson Task Force Practitioner for Barking and Dagenham Susan Douglas said: “This scheme will allow us to work together to combat arson within the borough. The PCSOs knowledge of the area will be invaluable in helping us to identify any fire related activity in those wards.”
This initiative follows on from a successful scheme on the Gascoigne estate where for the past two years the Arson Task Force has had an excellent working relationship with the PCSOs in addressing arson issues.
Borough Fire Commander for Barking and Dagenham Jim Donovan said: “I am delighted we are working in partnership with the police to tackle arson in Barking and Dagenham. I am sure that PACT will be a success and that we will be able to reduce arson across the borough.”
The nine wards are Abby, Chadwell Heath, Eastbrook, Gascoigne, Goresbrook, Heath, River, Thames, and Village.
The training session took place between 10am and 1pm.
