EAST Cowes Town Council has received a policing update report focused on the recent spree of van and motorhome fires in the Isle of Wight town, sharing a hypothesis surrounding the potential motive.

This issue has become an Island-wide Neighbourhood Policing Team priority due to the seriousness and multitude of events that have taken place in and around Victoria Grove, York Avenue, Kent Avenue and Princess Close.

District Inspector Andrew McDonald told East Cowes councillors that police teams have already spent hours looking through Ring doorbells, CCTV and door-to-door knocking for information.

Police teams believe these incidents are linked and started using the same method.

The police update report was made on Thursday (February 16), before the most recent development in the investigation - an incident on Friday evening (February 17).

Yesterday, an 18-year-old man from Sandown was arrested on suspicion of arson, and possession of cocaine, following another van fire on York Avenue.

Hampshire and IW Constabulary cannot confirm whether the incident is linked to the other van fires, as an investigation remains ongoing.

Cllr Cameron Palin, who was present at the police meeting, posted on his Facebook page: “Whilst at the present time it cannot be 100 per cent confirmed what the motive is, they [police] believe it COULD be in relation to the lack of parking in the town, and these larger vehicles are being targeted. 

“Of course, this is not the correct way to express any form of frustration.

“Police have urged all residents in East Cowes to be hyper-vigilant and report any suspicious activity, or if they see any vehicles on fire, directly to 999, not 101."