TWO young boys, aged 11 and 9, were caught lighting a fire in Canberra’s south yesterday. 

Around 12.35pm, a member of the public reported seeing the boys lighting a fire against a tree on the Wanniassa School oval.

Police spoke to the two boys who said they were lighting fires to keep warm and had put the fire out themselves.

Firefighters attended and confirmed the fire had been extinguished.

The boys were taken to Tuggeranong Police Station, before being released into the custody of their parents.

The 11-year-old boy will undergo a restorative justice process.

Acting Superintendent Daryl Neit of South District says the restorative justice process can be an effective tool to respond to crime that emphasises the consequences of the offence and holds the offender responsible and accountable for their actions.

“The process is intended to augment the criminal justice system and can run in conjunction with existing criminal justice processes. If the offender doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the scheme, the matter can still be put before the court,” he says.

For further information regarding the restorative justice process, refer to police.act.gov.au.