Overview
- West Yorkshire Police, Trading Standards and Fire & Rescue carried out 20 visits over a fortnight, seizing more than 350kg of fireworks worth about £10,000 alongside illegal cigarettes, vapes and other unsafe goods.
- In Newcastle, a joint inspection recovered almost 20kg of unlicensed fireworks from a home, with police and fire officials urging the public to buy only from licensed retailers and warning of fines or prosecution for illegal sales.
- Firework Control Zones are now active in nine areas of Edinburgh from October 31 to November 9 and in three Glasgow communities from November 1 to 10, where setting off fireworks is a criminal offence enforced by Police Scotland with penalties up to £5,000 and six months in prison.
- Government guidance reiterates it is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am except on Bonfire Night (until midnight) and on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year (until 1am).
- HSE rules allow up to 50kg of Hazard Type 4 fireworks to be carried for up to 21 days without a licence, with industry warnings that breaches can lead to fines of up to £300, six licence points and potential insurance invalidation.