Cop cars hit in arson attack

Paul R Taylor

December 22, 2008

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A POLICE station and two vehicles were set ablaze in a targeted arson attack.

The attackers set fire to an unmarked Ford Fiesta and marked Transit van in the enclosed yard at Newton Heath Police Station, in north Manchester.

Both vehicles were destroyed and the flames spread to the station building itself, scorching the outer wall and damaging the roof and guttering.

No-one was injured in the blaze, which was started at about 1am, as the station is only open during office hours. It was put out by fire fighters.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Two teenage boys, one on a motorbike, were seen fleeing the scene.

Insp Chris Hadfield said: "This was a deliberate attack on our police station. The two vehicles were completely engulfed in flames and destroyed. The fire did spread to the station but luckily only caused minor damage.

"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed anyone acting suspiciously at the scene to come forward."

Call police on 0161 8725050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Paul B (22/12/2008 at 18:27)

wonder how long it took the police to get to this report of arson, bet it was within minutes rather than having to wait hours if it was somewhere else.

andanotherthing, East Mcr (22/12/2008 at 18:38)

It is about time these vacant when needed stations were shut for good and sold off. Then the public would see truely that local policing died out years ago.
Newton Heath could do with thirty police officers on Briscoe lane from 6pm onwards.

Mad Angela, St George's. Hulme , (22/12/2008 at 19:19)

CCTV on Local Petrol Stations will catch them, the kids are that Thick, they would not have thought of that.

John Quambo, salford (22/12/2008 at 20:18)

Paul B you are clearly misinformed.
The speed at which police respond to incidents depends on what else is going on at that precise moment in time.

If there are free patrols then they go, if no one is free then you wait. They can't just magic up extra officers to go and look for your lost cat.

andanotherthing, East Mcr (22/12/2008 at 20:33)

john Quambo....I believe Paul B was refering to arson alluding to burglaries, assaults. The police are generally to far away,and do not turn up untill matters that are reported in good time escalate out of control.

John Quambo, salford (22/12/2008 at 20:47)

Andanotherthing - you go on about police not responding quick enough to "matters reported in good time"...

what, like the call that comes in saying
1)"my neighbours house is getting burgled right now"
or
2)"a gang is setting fire to the cars at newton heath station right now"

I would say that 95% of all calls to the cops are for incidents ongoing as the call is being made, so when you talk of calls being made in good time you are clearly talking nonsense and your point makes no sense.

Little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Diggler (22/12/2008 at 20:55)

Re andanotherthing.....Don't let ACC Justine Curran hear you say local policing has died off ! She just got promoted on a fine job she did in bringing it back ! seriously. Its the future. P.S, I think Quambo is spot on, i believe there are no more than a dozen officers able to respond on the North Manchester division during the night shift - (Thats Blackley, Moston, Harpurhey, Cheetham, Ancoats, Miles Platting, Newton Heath, Crumpsall), sleep well !

Esso Blue, Somewhere (22/12/2008 at 21:31)

I wonder if a lot of time is taken up with big time corporate fraud councils, banks, and terrorism.

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