£3,000 Reward After Fire Caused Power Cut

3 July 2017, 07:21 | Updated: 3 July 2017, 07:28

A utility firm is offering a £3,000 reward to anyone with information which leads to the conviction of vandals who caused a power cut in 1,000 homes.

Scottish Power has pledged to provide the cash after vandals targeted an electrical distribution substation in Glasgow causing a fire which resulted in the power outage.

The incident happened at about 6.30pm on June 26 in Napier Drive, Govan.

The utility firm said the distribution box was completely destroyed by the fire, which was in a predominantly residential area.

It is willing to pay £3,000 to anyone who provides information which eventually leads to the conviction of any of those responsible.

Engineers from SP Energy Networks reconnected homes within a few hours by switching supplies on to another part of the electricity network.

This provides a temporary fix until a new substation can be installed and connected.

David Guthrie, district manager at SP Energy Networks for the Glasgow area, said: "Illegal tampering with anything that links to the electricity network can be extremely dangerous and whoever was behind this vandalism clearly doesn't care about the consequences.

"The location of the fire on Napier Drive is in a residential area and close to a number of homes.

"Given the time of day this incident happened, there could also have been children playing nearby. It beggars belief that anyone could risk the lives of local people in this way.

"We will work closely with the police to help catch those behind this reckless fire and are offering a reward of £3,000 to anyone who provides information which eventually leads to the conviction of any of those responsible.''

Police Scotland described the vandalism as irresponsible and selfish.

Inspector Kevin Lammie, from Safer Communities with Greater Glasgow Police, added: "Setting a deliberate fire anywhere is reckless, but to set fire to a substation which powers people's homes is irresponsible, selfish and could have seriously affected, for example, people who are sick or vulnerable in the area.

"Our enquiries are continuing and if anyone has information that will assist officers trace those responsible, please contact Govan police station via 101.''