Overview
- This week police, trading standards and fire services increased patrols and in North Shields seized an estimated £2,000 of suspected illegal fireworks after acting on intelligence.
- UK law limits when fireworks may be used and sold, restricts public access to professional-grade (category 4) products, and allows on‑the‑spot fines plus unlimited fines or up to six months’ imprisonment for serious offences.
- Councils can treat persistent bonfire smoke as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and issue abatement notices that can lead to fines or prosecution if ignored.
- Authorities and charities warn that burning treated wood, furniture, plastics, tyres or wet garden waste releases toxic smoke, can trigger fines up to figures cited by experts, and causes severe distress to pets, livestock and vulnerable people.
- Residents are advised to attend organised displays, buy fireworks only from licensed sellers, follow safety distances and disposal guidance, and to report late fireworks or nuisance smoke to police or their council’s environmental health team.