A press release by the New South Wales Police Force (NSW) on 6 January 2020 verifies the claim.
Claim ID e3610b67
A press release by the New South Wales Police Force (NSW) on 6 January 2020 verifies the claim.According to a January 6 statement released by NSW Police, since November 2019, legal action ranging from cautions through to criminal charges had been taken against 183 people concerning bushfires. However, this figure does not relate solely to bushfire arson. The vast bulk of this action is related to other offences such as failing to comply with fire bans and the discarding of lit cigarettes and matches.
Of the 183 people who face legal action in NSW, 24 people faced charges of deliberately lighting bushfires. Fifty-three people faced charges or caution for failing to comply with a total fire ban; 47 faced charges for throwing away a lit cigarette or match on land.