Arson attacks in Croydon have dropped by more than 80 per cent over the last decade, according to the latest figures from the London Fire Brigade.

Last year the number of deliberate fires in the borough was 215 - about four a week.

In 2003/4 crews were attending, on average, more than 22 a week or three a day.

And there has also been a sharp decline in the number of vehicle fires from 381 in the financial year 2003/4 to 118 in the year 2012/13.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "Over the last decade the Brigade has worked extremely hard alongside its partners in the police and local councils to make it more difficult than ever for mindless vandals to endanger the lives of Londoners by setting fire to rubbish and vehicles left in our streets.

"We cannot be complacent though and I would urge anyone who sees an abandoned vehicle or dumped rubbish to report it to their local council, which will help get it removed so it cannot become a target for would be arsonists."

The LFB has set up a number of schemes aimed at reducing the number of deliberate fires and firefighters are working with the council to remove abandoned vehicles and fly-tipping from the streets.

An LFB spokesman said the sharp decline in vehicle fires can be put down to the increasing scrap value of motor vehicles making it less likely that they will be abandoned and therefore subject to arson.


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