The police are there .. but the yobs just don't care

Published on Tuesday 17 May 2011 21:24

View more of the images of the fire above. Pictures: IAN RUTHERFORD

YOBS set fire to a derelict block of flats and continued to search for scrap metal inside as the building burned.

More than 20 firefighters were involved in battling a blaze on the roof of the four-storey block on Muirhouse Parkway yesterday evening while officers pursued the suspects as they fled.

Crews had to cut their way through the tough metal barriers put in place to prevent access.

As they did so youths on the other side of the building continued to throw debris from upper floors even when confronted by police and firefighters.

At least half a dozen could be seen running between flats where the walls have been stripped away.

Several could be seen carrying stolen metal, thought to be copper, which is valuable to scrap merchants. A group of around 30 youths gathered nearby and brazenly posed for photographs.

Police cars darted through the surrounding streets and officers pursued youths through the wasteland on foot.

Six fire appliances were called to the incident at around 6.10pm yesterday and were on the scene for an hour and 40 minutes. Crews contained the fire to the roof area.

Last night, one youth aged under 16 had been detained by police and a 17-year-old was arrested.

The fire-hit block is one of dozens to be razed as part of plans to eradicate 1700 of the city's worst homes.

The demolition will make way for 700 properties in Muirhouse and Pennywell.

Furious residents said fires have been lit on half a dozen occasions previously and that the area has been blighted by antisocial behaviour.

John Hannah, 57, a Scots Guards veteran who lives nearby, said: "We've had trouble here every night for weeks.

"The police show up but they're scared to death of these kids. There's two officers but 20 or 30 kids. They are equipped to handle all this. They should surround the place so they can't escape.

"I'm scared to do anything. I'd like to see a local bobby speaking to residents.

"These officers don't know the kids, they just get called in when something kicks off."

He added: "You see them up there all the time. It's copper they're after. They even take tools up to help them strip it and drop it down to the others below."

Local resident Bob Japp, 43, who was taking his sons to football and passed the blaze, said: "This has happened five or six times. There's about 30 of them just standing in front of the building. No shame.

"I've no idea how they got in because the place is sealed shut. Even the fire crews can't get in."Another passing local resident, who asked not to be named, said the scene looked like a "madhouse".

She said: "The police are right there in front of them but they don't care. The police are outnumbered and the kids know they can't arrest them all. It'll be a blessing when they demolish this place."

A spokeswoman for the fire service said that the crew had used a turntable ladder to keep the roof fire under control while four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus had entered the building to prevent its spread.

A police spokesman said a teenager under 16 has been detained in connection with the incident and a 17-year-old was due in court charged with culpable and reckless conduct.

He added that most of the suspects had escaped, but officers were searching the surrounding area last night.