Fireworks

TRADING STANDARDS WANT FIREWORKS NIGHT TO GO WITH A BANG

Whether you are a retailer, a display organiser or member of the public, at this time of year we are all affected by fireworks.  This fact-sheet aims to give you the information that you need to make the fireworks season go with a bang, and offers sources of further help and guidance if required.

A new community poster has been developed for retailers (see pdf below) in response to community concerns about fireworks being let off late at night for weeks on end.  We are asking responsible retailers to display the voluntary poster to inform members of the public about the 'evening' curfew for letting off fireworks.

It is an offence to let fireworks off during night hours (11pm to 7am), except for on 5th November when this time is extended to midnight and on New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali when it is extended until 1am.  This is enforced by the Police and anyone caught letting off fireworks outside these hours may get issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Residents are being encouraged to enjoy fireworks responsibly, and realise that not everyone in the community enjoys hearing other people's fireworks, and the legal curfew should be followed. 

Working in partnership for a safe fireworks night

The Trading Standards Service is working with the community safety partnership within the Royal Borough, which includes the Community Safety Team, the Fire Service and Thames Valley Police, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to preventing the misuse or anti-social effect of fireworks.  The fire service is issuing fire safety advice, and the Police are ensuring that fireworks are not causing an anti-social nuisance in public places.  All the organisations working together on enforcement of fireworks legislation strongly recommend attending an organised display.  The statistics bear out that it is extremely unlikely you will get injured at an organised display, as opposed to the risk of injury with fireworks at home.

Fireworks and the law - what you need to know:

• Fireworks must have detailed instructions with them about their safe use. 
• The noise levels of fireworks are controlled, and certain fireworks are no longer available, such as air bombs, shells or bangers.
• Only persons over 18 may buy fireworks. 
• Caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns may only be bought by persons over 16. 
• It is an offence for people who aren't firework professionals to buy and possess 'category 4 fireworks'. These are only to be used at public displays by firework professionals.
• It is a criminal offence for persons under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
• It is an offence to throw or let off fireworks in any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place.
• It is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animals. 
• Shops are required by law to be registered or licensed by their local Trading Standards Service to store fireworks for sale. 
• Retailers must carry out risk assessments regarding the storage of their fireworks and there are strict controls on the location, method of storage and amount of fireworks that can be stored.
• There are requirements on the retailer to display prescribed notices inside the shop.
• Retailers must only sell fireworks that conform to British Safety Standards and meet certain noise conditions.
• Fireworks for public use must have BS 7114 printed on the box.

Fireworks let off in public places, or in possession of children in a public place, these offences are enforced by the Police and anyone found guilty is liable to pay a fine of up to £5,000 or may be issued with a £80 Fixed Penalty Notice (on-the-spot fine).

When can I buy fireworks?

Since 1 January 2005, unless they have a special licence, suppliers can only sell fireworks during the weeks leading up to Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.  Trading Standards will be visiting shops after the November deadline to ensure shops have removed them from sale.  Unless they have an annual licence, shops may only sell fireworks during the following periods:

• 15 October to 10 November
• 26 to 31 December
• Chinese New Year and three days before
• the first day of Diwali and the three days before.

If you notice any shops breaking the rules, please report them in confidence to Trading Standards on 01628 683802.  If any-one is using fireworks in public places, or you see children in possession of fireworks report them without delay to Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505.

•   Firework Poster (pdf 428KB)