Police identify suspects in play area arson – Mangotsfield

Officers investigating a fire which damaged a children’s play area in Mangotsfield have spoken with three teenagers.

The fire happened at the Springfield Park play area on Tuesday evening, 30 April. Fire crews attended and dealt with the blaze. The fire damaged play equipment and the safety surface.

Following local investigations, Neighbourhood officers talked with two 14-year-old boys and a girl aged 13 on Wednesday 1 May. We’ll be interviewing them voluntarily next week and are currently trying to trace a fourth teenager.

This follows a similar incident on Saturday 20 April, when a fire was put out by local residents before fire crews arrived.

We’ve carried out house-to-house enquiries in the area but continue to appeal for information as our investigation continues.

Get in touch if you can help, quoting reference 5219094545.

We’d ask parents and carers to speak to their teenage children about the impact of such vandalism. Make sure young people are aware of their responsibility to treat community facilities with respect.

For children’s own safety parents and carers should know where they are, who they are with and what they are doing.