A PIONEERING anti-arson team is being hailed a success just weeks after it was set up.

The police and fire service have joined forces for the first time to create the Arson Reduction Team.

The team pools resources and expertise and encourages the community to report known fire-starters.

The initiative is being led by Det Con Graham Jones and Station Officer Rick Percival from their base at Wesham, near Kirkham. Their role is to start the detective work and offer advice to prevent arson attacks.

The scheme was launched at the start of September with £50,000 of Home Office funding as part of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which encourages services such as the police, fire service and local authorities to co-operate in tackling crime.

Station Officer Percival said: "We've started to have some great effect in Blackburn where we are finding specific police officers and firefighters who can work together to share their expertise and experience.

"Arson is a serious crime and many people, especially youngsters, don't realise they are putting lives at risk when they start fires. Most people die from smoke inhalation and it only takes a very small fire for this to happen.

"Many fires are being set next to homes and they could easily result in someone being killed." He said there had been 14 arson-related deaths in the county in the last few years.

Mr Percival added they were particularly keen to enlist the help of the community, especially in places like the Fishmoor estate in Blackburn which is frequently hit by arson attacks and violence towards fire crews. The area has already been targeted by a poster campaign highlighting the free and confidential Crimestoppers arson hotline number, 0800 555 111.

The team will also encourage more use of the police forensic service in investigating arson.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose constituency office in Richmond Terrace was hit by arson three weeks ago, said he was happy to see the team working so well.