Fireworks are illegal here but many people drive over the border to the north and buy them and a lot of criminal gangs bulk buy and smuggle them and sell them down here and the offence of possession of fireworks without a licence with the intent of sale or supply is punishable by the whopping offence of €6.35 (formerly £5 law written in 1865)

Nasty

Is it a major problem there Sarge?

Yup and a stupid one aswell they should leaglise them stop the crappy blowup in your hand fireworks while if they where leaglised the sale could be controlled and the quality controlled also

Do you know how old you have to be in England to buy or handle them?

I believe it is 18

Under the Fireworks Act 2003, it was made illegal for any person under 18 to buy garden fireworks. Indoor fireworks, such as party poppers can be sold to anybody over the age of 16. Fireworks marked 'category 4' are for public displays only, and normal members of the public may not buy these. Possession of them in a public place is also illegal. No person may let off fireworks between 11pm-7am regardless of their age. As from 11 October 2004, police also have the power to issue penalty notices for disorder for these offences. Again, the offence attracts the upper tier fine of £80.

Under Section 80 of the Explosives Act, to throw or set off fireworks in any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place. The power to enforce this section of the Act rests with the police. Anyone found guilty is liable to pay a fine of up to £5,000. Penalty notices for disorder (on-the-spot fines) can also be issued for this offence, attracting the upper tier fine of £80.

Shops have to register or obtain a licence from Trading Standards to be allowed to store fireworks for sale. If they aren't registered or licensed, retailers could be fined up to £5,000 or given a prison sentence of up to six months.

Retailers must only sell fireworks that conform to British Safety Standards and meet certain noise conditions. They must have BS 7114 printed on the box. If you are in the UK, do NOT buy fireworks without BS 7114 printed on the box. They could well be dangerous.

As from 1 January 2005, unless they have a special licence, suppliers must only sell fireworks during the weeks leading up to Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

There are further restrictions for those who live in the close proximity of airports for safety reasons.

Yes the silly season is here and the ritual of "Where can we put the fireworks" is upon us. So far:

In the wheely-bin

GPO Letter box

BT phone box

Local neighbourhood Watch Officers porch...

What will tomorows tour of duty bring!!

Maybe a large firework strapped to a dog? We received a call to reports of youths attaching fireworks to animals. We arrived and found a dog half way down the street it had a rocket attached to it using a few turns of gaffa tape. It hadn't been lit, whether or not they intended to and the dog escaped or something scared them from doing it, I don't know. Could have been fatal for that innocent creature. Very rewarding seeing the owners face when we took it back (only round the corner, no need really for the RSPCA)

Thanks for the info OBP and Commissioner

THAT IS SICK!!

It's a total disgrace. Some people really do still surprise me and I see a lot of things both in my full time job and as a special. The punishments aren't strict enough for this sort of thing in my opinion.

What would they get???? "You naughty!! naughty!!! person, now dont do that again!! now toddle off and go buy some sweets"


No wonder a lot of the kids dont have any respect for the Law or Animals!!



Steve

Pretty much, a certain tabloid newspaper is running a campaign against animal cruelty at the moment and that something needs to be done.

We should be able to tape fireworks to them see how they like it