Investigation launched into police contact with woman injured in arson attack

South Yorkshire Police voluntarily referred the case to the body after it emerged that there had been previous contact between the force and the woman who was injured in a blaze at her home on Manor Road, Dinnington, on November 1.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “Following an assessment of the material in the referral, the IPCC launched an independent investigation that will examine South Yorkshire Police’s response to a number of calls made to the force.”

Officers investigating the Dinnington wheelie bin fire earlier this month arrested Liam Fretwell (23), of Park Avenue, North Anston, and Carly Waddington (19) of Rother Crescent, Treeton, a short time after the incident.  

They were charged with arson with intent to endanger life and the production of cannabis when they appeared at Rotherham Magistrates Court on November 4.

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: “Our investigation will examine the contact between the woman and South Yorkshire Police to ascertain whether the correct procedures and policies were followed, and also whether anything further could have been done prior to the fire at her home on November 1.”