Friday, November 05, 2004
Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is an occasion enjoyed by adults and children alike, but it can be ruined by the inconsiderate, irresponsible and anti-social use of fireworks. The good news is that such abuse is now not only inconsiderate, irresponsible and anti-social – it‘s criminal!
I’m backing Labour’s tough new offences to tackle fireworks. Last year, as your MP I voted for the passage of the Fireworks Act 2003. We have created new powers to fine yobs who threw fireworks in public and imposed a maximum noise level on fireworks. Now:
yobs misusing fireworks will face £80 on the spot fines as new police powers come into force.
police can now fine under 18’s for possession of an adult firework (any firework except for sparklers, party poppers and similar) in a public place;
police can now fine yobs for possession of a professional level firework.
Those causing a disturbance with fireworks can now be fined for letting off a firework between 11 pm and 7 am. Larger fines and Prison sentences are available for the most serious offences.
The tough new rules build on measures put in place in previous laws on Fireworks abuses:
these include the imposition of a maximum decibel limit - 120 decibels - on all consumer level fireworks;
it is illegal for anyone to sell fireworks to under 18’s under any circumstances;
there is also a ban on selling aerial shells, mini-rockets and fireworks of erratic flight (e.g. squibs, ) to the public;
there is now a licensing scheme in place to stop the year-round selling of fireworks from unlicensed premises and shops.
the offence of letting fireworks off in the street is punishable by a penalty notice for disorder (PND) with an £80 fine.
I hope that you and your family and friends enjoy a safe November 5th – for more information on firework safety see www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks.
Alun Michael MP
I’m backing Labour’s tough new offences to tackle fireworks. Last year, as your MP I voted for the passage of the Fireworks Act 2003. We have created new powers to fine yobs who threw fireworks in public and imposed a maximum noise level on fireworks. Now:
yobs misusing fireworks will face £80 on the spot fines as new police powers come into force.
police can now fine under 18’s for possession of an adult firework (any firework except for sparklers, party poppers and similar) in a public place;
police can now fine yobs for possession of a professional level firework.
Those causing a disturbance with fireworks can now be fined for letting off a firework between 11 pm and 7 am. Larger fines and Prison sentences are available for the most serious offences.
The tough new rules build on measures put in place in previous laws on Fireworks abuses:
these include the imposition of a maximum decibel limit - 120 decibels - on all consumer level fireworks;
it is illegal for anyone to sell fireworks to under 18’s under any circumstances;
there is also a ban on selling aerial shells, mini-rockets and fireworks of erratic flight (e.g. squibs, ) to the public;
there is now a licensing scheme in place to stop the year-round selling of fireworks from unlicensed premises and shops.
the offence of letting fireworks off in the street is punishable by a penalty notice for disorder (PND) with an £80 fine.
I hope that you and your family and friends enjoy a safe November 5th – for more information on firework safety see www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks.
Alun Michael MP
