Police praise actions of security officer

Press Release: Police praise actions of security officer

Friday 20 January 2006

Police are praising the actions of a Napier security officer that resulted in an arrest of a man alleged to be a serial arsonist, the New Zealand Security Officers Association reported today.

The man was arrested after the security officer, a member of the city council's Safety Watch Patrol noticed him at the St Paul's Church thrift shop fire in Dalton St one week ago. The man allegedly stayed at the scene for some time as 45 firefighters battled the blaze.

Police said it was good work by the city security guard to report the man's presence at the scene, which in turn led to the arrest.

The man also faces five charges relating to suspicious fires in central Napier since December 2001 which include a fire at the Napier Cosmopolitan Club in December 2001, and fires at an Emerson St business, the AMP building, the Governors Inn and a Liquor King in October.

A spokesperson for the New Zealand Security Officers Association said today, “the actions of the security officer which have led to an arrest, demonstrate the potency of the security industry’s policy of ‘observe and report’ and the value of security officers in the community’s fight against crime.”

ENDS

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