Over 100 arson attacks in Limavady

Meanwhile, there were over 400 arson offences investigated by police in Londonderry and across the wider North West policing area, referred to as ‘G District’ by the PSNI, there were a total of 719 arson attacks recorded by police in the time since 2009.

The police had been requested to release information on “the number of arson attacks investigated by the PSNI in each of the last three years (2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12) and the first four months of this year (April to July 31), broken down by area” under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.

The PSNI revealed that there had been a total of 5,990 arson attacks in Northern Ireland in that period, with 719 taking place in the ‘G District’ policing area which covers Londonderry, Limavady, Magherafelt and Strabane.

In Limavady there were 131 arson attacks investigated by the PSNI, 35 of which were attacks on homes. In Londonderry, or the ‘Foyle policing area’ there were a total of 415 arson attacks investigated in the period since 2009, 81 of which were attacks on residential premises.

Across G District, there were a total of 719 arson attacks, 157 of which took place at residential premises.

Police investigating the 5,990 arson offences throughout Northern Ireland made 706 arrests, resulting in 213 individuals being charged.

During the course of their investigations into the 1,393 arson offences which took place at a residential premises throughout Northern Ireland, the PSNI made 337 arrests and 114 individuals were subsequently charged.