Police are appealing for information after a number of small fires were started on Heysham Barrows on Monday.
It is believed there were around seven or eight separate small fires which were started at around 7.20pm on Monday evening and police are asking for anyone with any information to come forward and contact them.
In particular, they are asking for information about a group of around five or six young boys who were seen in the area at the time, described as being in their late teens, all with shaven hair.
The area was targeted in the same way last year (see archive news story) and as a result officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team are working with the National Trust stepping up patrols in the area to try and tackle the issue.
As part of Operation Barnacle, officers will be using ‘direction to leave’ powers to disperse groups that meet at the site and those that return within a specific time can then be arrested. Youngsters may also be taken home to their parents and could find themselves subject to a Youth Referral Scheme, in a bid to improve their behaviour.
“This is a beauty spot that is used by a large number of people but this sort of behaviour is spoiling it for those who want to make use of the site, says PCSO Chris Dyson, Heysham ward.
“We will be clamping down on this and are asking parents to help us too – do they know where their children are going in the evening? Parents have a responsibility to make sure that their children are safe and aren’t causing any trouble.”
• Anyone with any information about the fires can contact police on 08451 25 35 45 or via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.