Ten youths have carried out work in Acle to make amends for a fire that got out of control causing £5000 worth of damage.

The incident happened on Saturday 1 May between midnight and 2am after some rubbish was set alight on the ground next to the football complex at Acle Memorial Hall Social Club. 

The youths tried to cover their tracks by placing a wheelie bin over the embers without realising the fire was not completely put out resulting in the fire spreading.

The fire subsequently caused significant damage to five metres of fence panels, an area of the playing surface, the wheelie bin and the tarmac surface, causing in excess of £5000 worth of damage.

Police identified the youths who all admitted their involvement in the incident, of varying degrees.

As a result, local officers from the Acle Safer Neighbourhood Team, worked closely with the Acle Social Club committee who agreed that the matter should be resolved through the Restorative Justice process.

The offenders aged 15, along with their parents, agreed to meet committee members with police, apologised for their actions and were asked to carry out work in the community to make amends.

The group of youngsters agreed to carry out a car wash, which was advertised to local villagers in advanced, along with a litter pick in the Acle area.

Police Community Support Officer Bob Hall said: “After several weeks of organising, the car wash and litter pick were carried out at the end of July.

“The youngsters were very well behaved worked really hard on both tasks and raised £77 for the Memorial Hall”.

Restorative Justice is used with the consent of the victim to help solve low level offences without the need to pursue a costly criminal prosecution or criminalise young people where their behaviour can be positively influenced.