Shops Face Firework Safety Blitz

Trading Standards is launching a firework safety blitz, to ensure shops don’t stock dangerous versions or sell to children

Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards officers are staging spot checks at stores, to look out for:

•Shops selling illegal fireworks, such as bangers, air bombs and mini-rockets, which don’t comply with the BS7114 safety standard

•The sale of professional” fireworks, which should not be offered to the public

•Shops breaking the law, by selling to under-18s

•Shops that are not storing fireworks safely.

Penalties for breaking these laws range up to a fine of £5,000 or six months’ imprisonment.

This year, more than 200 stores are registered with the county council, to allow them to sell fireworks.

Dave Bull, head of Trading Standards, said: We want people to enjoy Bonfire Night and Diwali in safety – that’s why we’re taking action to curb illegal sales and check that fireworks are stored safely.

We’re working with the police, fire and rescue service and district councils to identify problem stores and stop anti-social behaviour caused by fireworks.”

Unless traders hold a licence to supply fireworks all year round, they can only sell them during the following periods:

•On the first day of the Chinese New Year (the next one is on February 3rd, 2011) and the three days preceding it

•On Diwali day (November 5th this year) and the three days preceding it

•From October 15th till November 10th

•From December 26th till December 31st

Anyone with concerns about firework sales can report them to Trading Standards, via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.