DORSET Police and its partners have stepped-up their joint patrols on local heathland in an effort to identify those responsible for a spate of fires. A £250 reward is also being offered.

Police officers alongside partners from Dorset Fire and Rescue, the Urban Heaths Partnership and local councils are conducting a greater number of joint heath patrols in order to identify and deter potential offenders. The partners can been seen patrolling on foot, mountain bikes and scrambler bikes as well as in 4x4 motor vehicles, all of which can easily access all areas of the heaths.

HELICOPTER

Dorset Police helicopter regularly watches over the areas, using hi-tech equipment to detect heat sources and record suspicious activity. In addition, police have enlisted the support of pilots from Bournemouth Flying Club, who have been asked to keep an eye out for smoke and fire over the heaths. In recent months there have been a number of fires on heathland in the Canford Heath, Rossmore and Alderney areas of Poole as well as the Talbot Heath and Meyrick Park areas of Bournemouth. Sergeant Andy Jenkins, of the Canford Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team, who regularly patrols heathland in the Poole north section, said: "As a partnership, we are determined to apprehend and bring to justice those responsible for this spate of fires which we believe have been set deliberately. This is of paramount importance as we approach the warmer, drier months of the year, when fire can spread very quickly, meaning any future fires could pose an even greater risk to human life and property as well as local wildlife and the heathland itself. "I would urge members of our communities who legitimately use the heathland to be alert and vigilant, and report any strange, suspicious or unusual activity to the police immediately." The most recent fire broke out on Monday 1st June on heathland in Rossmore. Jez Martin, Poole nature conservation officer, said: "A majority of the sites where fires have allegedly been lit are home to rare heathland plants, native reptiles and birds. Canford Heath, in particular, is home to one of the largest areas of heathland left in Dorset, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest under English law and a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area under European law. These fires have decimated some of these areas and the wildlife living there, including nationally rare sand lizards, smooth snakes and birds such as the stonechat and Dartford warbler, so it is vital we do everything within our power to ensure the heathland we have left is preserved for future generations to enjoy." A £250 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the heath fires in Bournemouth and Poole is being offered by the Bournemouth and Poole Arson Task Force supported by the national charity Crimestoppers.

● Anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 or 01305 22 22 22 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.