Arrests following multiple arsons in Folkestone

Two teenage boys have been arrested following multiple bins being set alight in Folkestone.

Kent Police was called to separate incidents on Alder Road, Kingsnorth Gardens, Beech Close and Shorncliffe Road, across multiple days. From to Wednesday 6 August to Tuesday 19 August, seven wheelie bins were set alight across Folkestone. The fires were extinguished each time by Kent Fire and Rescue Service with no reported injuries.

The incidents were treated as suspicious by investigators, and an arson investigation was launched.

Just hours after the last fires were put out, two 15-year-old boys from Folkestone were arrested on Wednesday 20 August. They have since been released on conditional bail whilst enquiries continue.

PC Cara Coleman-Mahon, of Kent Police, said:

‘Setting fire to bins might seem minor to some, but it’s a reckless act that can quickly escalate and put lives and property at real risk. These arrests show that we take incidents like this seriously, and anyone who endangers our communities through reckless actions will be held accountable.’