15 February 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to License the use of fireworks for public display only on recognised dates."
Details of Petition:
"Every year countless pet and wild animals are killed owing to the random letting off of fireworks. Children, in the main, insist on annoying and terrifying elderly people and pets. There is no end to it and I ask the government to restrict the purchase and use of fireworks to public display only. I am not against fireworks but I am against their random 24/7 abuse."
Read the Government’s response
Although a number of people have called for a ban on the use of fireworks by the public, the Government believes that to do so would be very unwelcome by the population at large as an undue restriction on the freedom to enjoy traditional celebrations and family firework parties (weddings and birthdays etc), the great majority of which are conducted in a safe and sensible manner.
However recognising concerns over the misuse of fireworks and their effects on animals, the Government introduced in 2004 a comprehensive package of measures designed to promote safety and tackle anti-social or inconsiderate use of fireworks.
They include:
- banning the possession of fireworks in public places by the under 18 age group;
- making retailers responsible for ensuring that they do not sell fireworks to under 18s;
- introducing a curfew on the use of fireworks;
- placing a maximum decibel limit on the largest fireworks available to consumers; and
- developing the licensing system to encourage seasonal-only sales (thereby reducing the frequency of noise in the approach to the November season).
We believe these measures have substantially reduced the effects of misuse of fireworks.