Teenagers singled out by new firework laws

Police will soon be able to arrest children and young people for
possessing fireworks in public places, under new legislation
planned by the government.

Possession by under-18s of any fireworks other than caps,
cracker snaps and party poppers will be a criminal offence under
the new law, to be introduced before Christmas.

Other measures, also to be brought in before Christmas but which
won’t require new legislation, are £80 fixed penalty
notices for people caught throwing fireworks in the street, and a
ban on members of the public possessing the largest, most powerful
category four fireworks.

The Fireworks Act, which was a private members bill backed by
the government, received Royal Assent in September.

Next year other sections of the act will be implemented,
including a national curfew banning the use of fireworks during
certain hours, a noise limit of 120 decibels on fireworks available
to the public and a new licensing system for the sale of
fireworks.

Local authorities will then be able to revoke the licences of
any retailers who break the new rules.

Animal welfare charities have been campaigning for a ban on
fireworks except on certain specified days of the year, but the
government appears to have rejected this option.