Overview
- West Yorkshire Police, Trading Standards and the Fire and Rescue Service carried out 20 visits across all five districts over the past two weeks, seizing more than £10,000 worth of fireworks.
- The coordinated days of action targeted businesses suspected of selling fireworks illegally and irresponsibly, described by officials as rogue sellers.
- Officers also confiscated 52,000 illegal cigarettes, 3,500 illegal vapes, over 10kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, out-of-date food and unsafe toys.
- Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said illegal sale and anti-social use of fireworks is a real concern and thanked members of the public who reported suspicious activity.
- Fire safety lead Chris Kemp highlighted the dangers of illegal storage, and Trading Standards head Linda Davis reminded retailers to verify ages and stressed that illegal traders are not welcome on local high streets.