Following our article about a petition debating whether we should ‘tighten regulations governing fireworks’ published on 8 December 2024, we can now report on the Government’s response to the petition.
The UK Government’s response could be disappointing news for campaigners. The government said that it will not currently be introducing any new legislation governing fireworks, putting the emphasis on local councils and law enforcement agencies to enforce laws and regulations already in force, such as the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Existing law to be reinforced stricter
The petition, which has attracted the support of thousands of signatories calling for immediate action on fireworks, has prompted a collaborative effort involving key stakeholders. This response by the UK Government is perceived as progress in addressing the concerns of the people living in the area, organisations, and advocacy groups.
What was this petition about?
The UK Government responded to a petition entitled ‘Limit the sale and use of Fireworks to licence holders only’ which was launched by Alan Smith after his mother was tragically killed when someone put fireworks through the letterbox of her home whilst she slept in her bed, seeking to shine a spotlight on this important matter and the need for the UK Government to tackle how fireworks are:
- regulated,
- policed, and
- licensed.
Residents, environmental groups, and industry leaders have long called for governments to do something about fireworks, citing concerns about fireworks being used as weapons, the potential risk to health, the environmental problems they cause, and the unnecessary fear and alarm they cause to members of the community.
The petition quickly gained momentum, attracting attention from people across the region who have voiced their frustration over the lack of timely action.
UK government’s statement
The UK Government was compelled to answer Mr Smith’s petition, and when it did so through the Department for Business and Trade, it sought to strike the balance between allowing people to use fireworks in what it described as a ‘safe and responsible’ way and in compliance with legal requirements on using fireworks safely. In terms of the next steps the UK Government said it ‘intended to collaborate closely with’, what it described as ‘stakeholders, such as the police and councils, in an evidence-gathering process on the negative impact of fireworks’.
The UK authorities also emphasised how seriously it was taking the misuse of fireworks. It said, ‘Where local issues are identified, councils and the police (already) have powers to protect the public from misuse and harm.’ The UK Government also pointed to the enforcement of laws governing fireworks. It warned those people considering the misuse of and committing offences involving the illegal possession of fireworks risk criminal sanctions in the form of custodial sentences of half a year in prison ‘to an unlimited fine’.
Government priorities
The Government took the opportunity to put its agenda front and centre and highlight its priorities. The authorities pointed to its Safer Streets Mission and as part of this are looking to combat ‘anti-social behaviour’ involving fireworks. The UK Government emphasised with members of the public worried about fireworks in that it ‘understands that anti-social behaviour causes sadness and damage to the community, and can cause the commission of more serious offending’.
Collaboration with stakeholders?
So, how will the UK Government look to collaborate closely with stakeholders? It commented that law enforcement authorities, councils, and what it described as ‘other local agencies’ have many ‘flexible powers and tools they have the discretion to use to combat anti-social behaviour’. It put the onus on local authorities governing local areas to make the choice on ‘how best to deploy these powers and were depending on the specific circumstances’. The UK Government explained that local councils are ideally situated to comprehend the causes of anti-social behaviour, the damage it is doing, and then to arrive at a decision on how to proceed given the specific circumstances of the case’.
Future direction?
The Government said it is ‘examining the detail of existing positions to decide if and where changes in policy may be required’. The Government did not explain what they meant by ‘examining the detail of existing positions’. However, as Oxford University so helpfully reminded us in Thomas Dye’s definition of public policy, ‘it is whatever governments choose to do or not to do’, is a ‘deliberate decision between alternative ways of proceeding’, and results in action or intentional ‘inaction’. The authorities gave members of the public a hint as to what they will be thinking about if changing the law governing fireworks, such as the impact on property, people, animals, and public safety.
The authorities are looking to collaborate with businesses, consumer groups, and charities after what it described as ‘fireworks season’ as part of its evidence-gathering exercise to explore the ‘issues with and impacts of fireworks’. In the meantime, the UK Government encouraged people to ‘enjoy fireworks responsibly’. It has launched a fireworks campaign seeking to advise members of the public on reducing the impact of fireworks on the health of animals and promoting responsible use.
With the government working closely with stakeholders, the petition’s success in compelling the authorities to issue a response to the petition has created optimism for a positive future, as all stakeholders work towards ‘a shared goal of creating positive change for the community’. This announcement represents a promising sign of cooperation between the government and the public. It is a classic example which seems to demonstrate that when members of the public voice their concerns, government authorities may be keen to hear and take action.If anyone wants to support Mr Smith’s petition entitled ‘Limit the sale and use of Fireworks to licence holders only’, please sign it on the UK Government petition page, as it only needs just over 20,000 more signatures for it to be debated in Parliament.
