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Catching fire bugs

A RECENT study by the Australian Institute of Criminology estimated about half of Australia's bushfires were lit deliberately. Few arsonists are caught or convicted. This activity is likely to increase on days of code-red fire risk. Arsonists have received little attention following February's terrible fires. It is imperative that this criminal activity be addressed, perhaps by adopting measures similar to South Australia's Operation Nomad, in which police visit suspected and convicted arsonists on days of high fire danger and use automated number plate recognition to alert them when suspects drive in fire danger zones. This would be resource-intensive, but surely a fraction of the cost and logistical effort required to combat fires and their dreadful aftermath.

Dick Davies, president, Warrandyte Community Association