Appeal for information following arson incident in grounds of Malmesbury Abbey

A police investigation into an incident of arson in the grounds of Malmesbury Abbey is currently ongoing.

At approximately 9.45pm on June 3, officers were alerted to the incident in Abbey Row where three bins had been set on fire. The fire service were in attendance and the fire was extinguished.

We believe the fire was started deliberately and would urge anyone who witnessed anybody acting suspiciously in the area prior to the fire taking place to call police on 101.

We’d also like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV footage or anyone who may have been driving in the area with a dash cam fitted to their vehicle which could potentially have captured relevant footage. Officers are continuing with their enquiries and at this stage, no arrests have been made.

Insp James Brain said: “We understand the upset this incident has caused to the local community and we are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible.

“There have been ongoing issues in Malmesbury recently with a small group of individuals acting in an anti social manner causing problems for residents. I must stress this is a very small group of people. I’d like to reassure residents that we understand their concerns and are working closely with partners to come up with the best solution to these issues. Anti social behaviour can really impact on a close knit community like Malmesbury.”

If you have any information in relation to the arson, please call 101 and quote crime reference number 54220057246. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.