THE arsonist or arsonists currently loose in Walcot and Park North must be caught before they have a chance to cause a tragedy.

Arsonists kill people. They don’t always do so deliberately but fire by its very nature is unpredictable.

There have been many cases all over the world of arsonists setting fire to property with no intention of causing harm to people, only for flames to spread to nearby structures with horrific results.

The fire damage in Park North and Walcot is so far confined to wheelie bins and cars, but that is more a case of good luck than anything else. What is to stop, say, an ember floating away from its source and finding its way to a nearby home?

Available evidence suggests a group of malevolent idiots are responsible. This is at least preferable to a lone disturbed person who might start bigger and bigger fires to retain their thrill, but we should all still move heaven and earth to catch them.

Anybody with relevant information who fails to come forward is as morally culpable as the arsonists themselves.

Anybody who thinks they may have information but worries about wasting police time should come forward anyway; the police will not judge them and the data they pass on might crack the case.

The perpetrators deserve years in prison.