Shops could be BANNED from selling fireworks as 750,000 sign petitions backing law change
A change of law would also mean that only licensed venues are able to hold a firework display
SHOPS could be BANNED from selling fireworks after 750,000 people have signed a series of petitions calling on the Government to change the law.
MPs have now launched an inquiry into the campaign, which would mean members of the public may no longer be able to buy fireworks and limit displays to licensed venues only.
Petitions on the Parliament.uk website that receive at least 100,000 signatures are automatically considered for debate in Parliament.
In total, there are 11 open petitions calling for stricter firework regulations, many of which slam the celebratory explosions as a "nuisance to the public".
Others highlight the impact they have on animals, young children and veterans who suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder.
One petition, which was started by Amy Cullen, has received 300,000 signatures after being launched in October last year.
What does the law say about buying fireworks?
IT is currently legal for shops to sell fireworks - and you to buy them - as long as they abide by a strict set of rules set by the Government.
If you break the law, you could face a £5,000 fine and up to six months in prisons. The rules are:
- You need to be 18 or older to buy them,
- It's illegal to set them off between 11p and 7am except on certain occassions,
- You must not set them off in the street,
- The curfew is extented to midnight on Bon Fire night,
- The cut off is 1am on New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year,
- You can only buy fireworks from registered sellers between October 15 and November 10, December 26 until December 31 and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year,
- You can buy fireworks at other times of the year from licensed shops.
There were another 11 petitions that closed in 2018 calling for the same thing, the most popular of which received 113,000 signatures alone.
Current rules mean that only licensed sellers are allowed to stock fireworks, while registered retailers are limited to selling them during short periods at specific times of year like Bonfire Night, New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
Shoppers also have to be over the age of 18 to buy them, but raises concerns that younger children are also able to get their hands on them making fireworks a risk.
The Government says that it recognises the concerns but it also feels the rules already "strikes the right balance" between safety, enjoyment and the religion significance.
It also accepts that the laws haven't been looked at for some time and may be in need of refreshing.
The cross-party committee which has been set up to investigate issues raised by e-petitions includes MPs from Labour, Conservative, and the SNP.
What fireworks can you buy to use at home?
MEMBERS of the public are only allowed to set off category 1, 2 and 3 fireworks. These include:
- Rockets - up into the air before bursting
- Fountains - Fireworks that go upwards on ground level
- Compound cakes - Fire up straight and then have a fan effect
- Sparklers - handheld fireworks
- Single ignition - Probably the greatest advance in fireworks in recent years has been the single ignition display firework
- Mines - starts as a fountain before errupting
- Cakes - directly up with a more of a sparkly finish
- Low Noise - A variety of shapes but with noise control
- Fan slices - a firework that goes directly up into the air and fans out
- Barrage packs - a collection of fireworks
Now, the group of MPs are calling on campaigners and experts to provide views on the subject via an online survey which may then best used as evidence in the investigation.
Helen Jones MP, Chair of the Committee, said: "Through the scores of petitions we have received on this it is clear that public feeling about fireworks is very strong, and there is a real need to scrutinise the current laws."
You have until 5pm on Monday April 8 to fill out the survey, which you can do online .
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