VANDALS who set alight a bin will pay for a fire-proof replacement in a bid to make amends for their actions. It follows an incident last year in which three men were seen to set fire to a plastic bin at Caister Pavilion - all of which was captured on CCTV.

VANDALS who set alight a bin will pay for a fire-proof replacement in a bid to make amends for their actions.

It follows an incident last year in which three men were seen to set fire to a plastic bin at Caister Pavilion - all of which was captured on CCTV. The incident happened on Sunday, September 20, 2009, on Allendale Road.

Response officer PC Andrew Hunt and local school liaison police community support officer Peter Turner made enquiries in the area and at the local high school and as a result the three men were eventually identified.

After making contact with Great Yarmouth borough services, who owned the bin, it was decided the crime should be resolved by way of restorative justice.

Earlier this month, it was agreed the males will each pay �100 to pay for a new fire-proof bin within three months.

Sergeant Andy Brown, from the Caister and coastal villages safer neighbourhood team, said the case was a good example of response and safer neighbourhood team officers working together to ensure offenders made a positive impact on the community while making amends for their actions.

PC Hunt said: “This shows the restorative justice process can be beneficial to the victim as they receive payment for damage as well as the offender as all three young males have shown remorse for the incident.”

Restorative justice is an alternative to criminal prosecution which brings together offenders of low level crime and their victims to resolve the matter.

To contact the Caister and Coastal SNT call 0845 456 4567 or email sntcaisterandcoastalvillages@norfolk.pnn.police.uk