‘Burning Your Future’ Video Set To Educate Youngsters In Wrexham

A short film highlighting the consequences of deliberate firestarting is now live on the social media sites of North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The short film will be promoted via social media, in readiness for the launch of the full 20 minute video which will educate people about the consequences of deliberate firestarting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This work has been undertaken as part of a number of projects funded by the £10,000 grant awarded by the Police and Crime Commissioner earlier this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The short film features interviews with deliberate fire perpetrators, local victims of deliberate firestarting in the Caia Park area and a woman who sustained serious burns to her body during a fire as well as officers from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The video has been titled ‘Burning your future’ following a recent on line competition which attracted numerous suggestions for fitting titles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stacey Jones, 22, from Holywell, penned the winning entry and was awarded with a £20 cinema voucher during a visit to Wrexham’s Ambulance and Fire Services Resource Centre on Croesnewydd Road this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inspector Simon Kneale from North Wales Police, said: “We were thrilled with the reaction to the online competition to come up with a name for the video, and we thought that Stacey’s suggestion of ‘Burning your future’ summed up perfectly how arson offences really can destroy the life of the perpetrator and those around them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The short film is now online and is gives out a very powerful message. It’s a taster of what is to come in the full video, which we’re hoping to roll out to schools across the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Scott, Community Safety Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “One little thing that you do can destroy your future – and Stacey’s title helps get this message across. Deliberate fires have consequences – for the perpetrator, our communities and our emergency services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re using a number of case studies in the short film and the footage has been shot and edited in the Wrexham area, giving the film a real local flavour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The full video will highlight how arson affects communities, and we hope that the trailer which is online now will start to get people thinking about this issue and why we need to stamp out deliberate firestarting for good. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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